Liquefied gas storage facility comprising a vessel and a dome structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquefied gas storage installation comprising a load-bearing structure (1), a sealed and thermally insulated tank arranged within the load-bearing structure (1), and a dome structure (19) passing through an opening (18) made in a ceiling wall (11) of the tank and in an upper load-bearing wall (3). The dome structure (19), comprising a drum (22) extending in the thickness direction, is fixed to the upper load-bearing wall (3) and is hermetically welded to the sealing membrane (17) of the ceiling wall (11). The drum (22) has a lower end (33) directed towards the internal space of the tank and a closing plate (25) positioned opposite the lower end (33) of the drum (22) so as to cover it. The storage installation comprises at least one pipe (20, 21, 31) for conveying liquefied gas, which traverses the dome structure (19) and the orifice (27, 28,29) provided in the closing plate (25).,

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of storage installations for liquefied gas comprising a sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage and / or transport of a liquefied gas, such as tanks for the transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG) having, for example, a temperature between -50°C and 0°C, or for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -162°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0002] These installations can be installed on land or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the installation tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas used as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.

[0003] The invention relates more particularly to a liquefied gas storage installation comprising a dome structure which passes through an opening made in the ceiling wall of the tank. Technological background

[0004] Document WO2019215414 discloses a liquefied gas storage facility comprising a supporting structure formed by the double hull of a ship and a sealed and thermally insulating tank which is housed inside the supporting structure. The walls of the tank have a multi-layer structure successively comprising, from the outside to the inside, a secondary thermally insulating barrier, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas stored in the tank. The upper wall of the tank comprises, near the rear wall of the supporting structure, a space, of rectangular parallelepiped shape, projecting upwards, called a liquid dome.The tank includes a loading / unloading tower which comprises three hollow masts which pass through a cover of the liquid dome and which define either a loading or unloading line for loading or unloading fluid to or from the tank, or an emergency shaft for lowering an emergency pump and an unloading line in the event of failure of the other unloading pumps. Such a liquid dome is not fully satisfactory. In particular, the interior of the liquid dome is likely to be subjected to dynamic pressures due to the phenomenon of "sloshing", i.e. the movement of the cargo in the tank.Furthermore, thermal insulation is provided by insulating blocks fixed inside the liquid dome while the sealing of the liquid dome is provided by a sealing membrane which is fixed to the thermally insulating barrier and which is tightly connected to the primary sealing membrane of the upper wall of the tank. Thus, the structure of such a liquid dome is relatively complex to manufacture. Summary

[0005] One idea behind the invention is to provide a sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising a dome structure which is protected against the movements of the liquefied gas inside the tank.

[0006] Another idea behind the invention is to propose a sealed and thermally insulating tank equipped with a dome structure which has a simple structure to manufacture.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a storage facility for a liquefied gas comprising a supporting structure and a sealed and thermally insulating tank arranged in the supporting structure, said sealed and thermally insulating tank having an internal space, the supporting structure comprising an upper supporting wall and the tank comprising a ceiling wall fixed to the upper supporting wall, the ceiling wall comprising, in a thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the tank, at least one thermally insulating barrier and at least one sealing membrane supported by the thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank, the storage facility comprising a dome structure passing through an opening made in the ceiling wall and in the upper supporting wall, the dome structure comprising a barrel which extends in the thickness direction,said barrel comprising a lower end which is directed towards the internal space of the tank and at least one closing plate which is positioned opposite the lower end of the barrel so as to cover it, the closing plate comprising at least one orifice, the storage installation comprising at least one pipe which is intended to conduct liquefied gas, said pipe passing through the dome structure and passing through the orifice made in the closing plate.,

[0008] Thus, the closing plate protects the dome structure against movements of the liquefied gas inside the tank.

[0009] According to other advantageous embodiments, such a sealed and thermally insulating tank may have one or more of the following characteristics.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the barrel is cylindrical in shape with a circular section.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the barrel is fixed to the upper load-bearing wall.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the barrel is welded in a watertight manner to the waterproofing membrane of the ceiling wall.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the dome structure comprises a ceiling which is fixed, for example by welding, to an upper end of the shaft.

[0014] In one embodiment, the ceiling is domed, which allows the dome structure to withstand greater pressures inside the tank.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the closure plate is fixed to the barrel and the pipe is mounted freely, in translation along the thickness direction, inside the orifice. In other words, the closure plate is not fixed to the pipe but to the barrel, which allows the movement of the pipe relative to the closure plate when it is subjected to thermal contraction phenomena, in particular during cooling or when loading the tank.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the closure plate is fixed to the barrel by a plurality of fixing elements.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the fixing elements are gussets which are each fixed, on the one hand, to an internal surface of the barrel and, on the other hand, to an upper surface of the closing plate.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the gussets are welded to the inner surface of the barrel and welded to the upper surface of the closure plate.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the closure plate is fixed to the pipe by means of at least two gussets.

[0020] According to one embodiment, each gusset plate has an edge welded to the pipe and an edge welded to the closure plate, for example to the upper surface of the closure plate.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the gussets are oriented radially relative to the axis of the pipe and are distributed regularly around the axis of the pipe.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the conduit to which the closure plate is attached is centered relative to the shaft of the dome structure.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the installation comprises two closing plates fixed to each other by at least two sheet metal plates forming a spacer maintaining the spacing between the two closing plates.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the sheet metal plates also act as stiffeners.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the dome structure includes an insulating lining that fills the interior of the barrel and rests on the closure plate. Thus, the insulation of the dome structure is effective and easy to install.

[0026] According to one embodiment, a mesh is interposed between the insulating lining and the closing plate. The mesh thus makes it possible to retain the insulating lining in the barrel.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the insulating filling is chosen from glass wool, rock wool and insulating foam, such as polyurethane foam.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the insulating lining comprises one or more foam blocks. According to another embodiment, the insulating lining comprises sprayed foam.

[0029] In another embodiment, the dome structure includes an insulating lining that covers an exterior surface of the shaft that projects beyond the upper load-bearing wall of the load-bearing structure.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the insulating lining also covers an exterior surface of the ceiling of the dome structure.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the pipe is connected to a spray bar which is fixed to the closure plate and which has one or more spray nozzles. This allows for simpler installation of the spray bar than when it is fixed to the upper wall of the tank, as in the prior art.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the spray bar has an annular shape.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the spray nozzles are distributed around a central axis of the annular shape of the spray boom.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the closing plate is arranged in the internal space of the sealed and thermally insulating tank. The closing plate is thus located below the lower end of the barrel.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the closure plate is arranged in the internal space of the sealed and thermally insulating tank, at a distance from the lower end of the barrel. This makes it possible in particular to facilitate the operations of fixing the closure plate to the barrel.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the closure plate extends in a plane which is positioned at a vertical distance from the plane of the lower end of the barrel which is less than 50 cm, advantageously greater than 5 cm and preferably between 10 and 25 cm. Thus, such a distance makes it possible to facilitate the operations of fixing the closure plate to the barrel while positioning the closure plate above the maximum loading limit of the tank.

[0037] According to one embodiment, in projection in the plane of the lower end of the barrel, the closing plate covers at least 80%, and preferably more than 95% of the section of the lower end of the barrel.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the closure plate comprises a plurality of orifices and the liquefied gas storage facility comprises a plurality of conduits intended to conduct liquefied gas, each conduit passing through the dome structure and passing through one of the orifices provided in the closure plate.

[0039] According to one embodiment, at least one of the pipes is intended for unloading liquefied gas stored in the tank, said pipe extending to the vicinity of a bottom wall of the tank and being equipped with an unloading pump.

[0040] According to one embodiment, at least one of the pipes is intended for loading liquefied gas stored in the tank.

[0041] The installation according to one of the aforementioned embodiments may be a land-based storage installation, for example for storing LNG or be installed in a floating, coastal or deep-water structure, in particular an ethane or methane carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others. In the case of a floating structure, the tank of the installation may be intended to receive liquefied natural gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.

[0042] According to one embodiment, a vessel for transporting a fluid comprises a hull, such as a double hull, and a storage facility for a liquefied gas mentioned above, the hull of the vessel forming the supporting structure.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a vessel, in which a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or land-based storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or land-based storage facility and a pump for driving a flow of fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the tank of the vessel. Brief description of the figures

[0045] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the accompanying drawings. [ fig.1 ] There Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a supporting structure intended to support a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing liquefied gas, the dome structure not being shown. fig.2 ] There Figure 2 is a schematic view of the multi-layer structure of the tank walls. fig.3 ] There Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a dome structure of a sealed and thermally insulating tank. fig.4 ] There Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower end of the dome structure of the Figure 3in which the spraying device is not shown. fig.5 ] There Figure 5 is a perspective view, from above, of the lower end of the dome structure of the Figure 3 . [ fig.6 ] There Figure 6 is a bottom view of the dome structure of the Figure 3 . [ fig.7 ] There Figure 7 is a sectional view of a dome structure of a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to another embodiment. fig.8 ] There figure 8 is a detailed view of the conduit and closure plates of figure . [ fig.9 ] There figure 9 a sectional view of a dome structure of a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to yet another embodiment. fig.10 ] There Figure 10 is a schematic cutaway representation of a ship comprising a liquefied natural gas storage tank and a terminal for loading / unloading this tank. Description of the embodiments

[0046] In relation to the Figure 1 , a supporting structure 1 is described against which a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a liquefied gas is intended to be fixed. The supporting structure 1 is, for example, formed by the double hull of a ship. The supporting structure 1 has a generally polyhedral shape. It has two front and rear supporting walls 2, here octagonal in shape, of which only the rear supporting wall 2 is shown on the Figure 1 . The front and rear walls 2 are, for example, cofferdam walls of the ship which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ship. The supporting structure 1 also comprises an upper supporting wall 3, a lower supporting wall 4 and side supporting walls 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

[0047] The sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing liquefied gas comprises a plurality of tank walls which are each anchored against one of the load-bearing walls 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 of the load-bearing structure 1 and which thus define an internal space intended to contain the liquefied gas.

[0048] As shown in the Figure 2, each wall of the tank successively has, from the outside to the inside, along the thickness direction of the wall, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 12 comprising insulating elements 13 fixed to the supporting structure 1, a secondary sealing membrane 14 anchored to the insulating elements 13 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 12, a primary thermally insulating barrier 15 comprising insulating elements 16 fixed to the insulating elements 13 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 12 or to the supporting structure 1 and resting against the secondary sealing membrane 14 and a primary sealing membrane 17 anchored to the insulating elements 16 of the primary thermally insulating barrier 15 and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.By way of example, such membrane tanks are described in particular in patent applications WO14057221, FR2691520 and FR2877638 relating respectively to the Mark V ®<, Mark III ®< and NO96 ®< products developed by the applicant.

[0049] The liquefied gas intended to be stored in the tank may in particular be liquefied natural gas (LNG), i.e. a gas mixture comprising mainly methane and one or more other hydrocarbons, ethane, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), i.e. a mixture of hydrocarbons from oil refining comprising mainly propane and butane.

[0050] As shown in the Figure 3, the upper load-bearing wall 3 as well as the ceiling wall 11 of the tank are interrupted locally so as to delimit an opening 18. The tank also comprises a dome structure 19 which projects upwards from the upper load-bearing wall 3 around the opening 18 and which defines a passage 24 which is crossed by pipes 20, 21, 31 intended respectively for loading the tank with the liquefied gas, for unloading it or for cooling it.

[0051] The dome structure 19 comprises a shaft 22 which extends in the thickness direction of the ceiling wall 11. The shaft 22 is cylindrical in shape with a circular cross-section. The dome structure 19 also comprises a ceiling 23 which is welded to the upper end of the shaft 22. The ceiling 23 is advantageously curved with a downwardly directed concavity, which allows the dome structure 19 to withstand higher pressures inside the tank. The lower end 33 of the shaft 22 is directed towards the internal space of the tank and is sealed welded to the primary sealing membrane 17. The shaft 22 and the ceiling 23 are, for example, made of stainless steel. The shaft 22 is fixed to the upper load-bearing wall 3, for example by means of an annular fixing device 32.

[0052] Furthermore, the dome structure 19 includes a closure plate 25 which is attached to the barrel 22. The closure plate 25 is attached to the lower end of the barrel 22 by a plurality of gussets 26, shown in the figures 4 And 5 The gussets 26 are regularly distributed around the closing plate 25. The gussets 26 are, on the one hand, welded against the internal surface of the barrel 22 and, on the other hand, welded against the upper surface of the closing plate 25. The gussets 26 here comprise two wings perpendicular to each other and one of which is fixed to the barrel 22 and the other to the closing plate 25.

[0053] The closing plate 25 is arranged opposite the lower end 33 of the barrel 22 so as to cover it at least partially. In the embodiment shown, the closing plate 25 is slightly offset downwards, relative to the lower end 33 of the barrel 22. For example, the vertical distance between the plane of the closing plate 25 and that of the lower end 33 of the barrel 22 is less than 50 cm and greater than 5 cm, preferably between 10 and 25 cm. Such a spacing between the closing plate 25 and the lower end 33 of the barrel 22 makes it possible in particular to facilitate the operations of welding the gussets 26 to the closing plate 25.

[0054] Advantageously, in projection along a vertical axis in the plane of the lower end 33 of the barrel 22, the closing plate 25 and its orifices 27, 28, 29 cover at least 80%, advantageously at least 90% and preferably 100% of the section of the barrel 22. The closing plate 25 comprises a plurality of orifices 27, 28, 29 through which the pipes 20, 21, 31 pass. The closing plate 25 is advantageously made of stainless steel.

[0055] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, in order to ensure the insulation of the dome structure 19, an insulating lining 30 is housed in the barrel 22 so as to fill the space inside the barrel 22. According to one embodiment, the insulating lining 30 is chosen from glass wool and rock wool and insulating foam, such as polyurethane foam for example. When the insulating lining comprises insulating foam, this may consist of one or more insulating blocks or be obtained by spraying an expanding foam solution inside the barrel 22.

[0056] The insulating gasket 30 rests against the closing plate 25. Advantageously, a grid 34, shown in the Figure 3, is interposed between the closing plate 25 and the insulating lining 30 so as to retain the insulating lining 30 inside the barrel 22. Thus, the closing plate 25 ensures the support of the insulating lining 30 inside the barrel 22.

[0057] According to another embodiment not shown, in a manner complementary or alternative to the insulating lining 30 which is housed in the barrel 22, the barrel 22 and ceiling 23 of the dome structure 19 are covered with insulating lining on their outer surface projecting from the upper load-bearing wall 3 in order to form thermal continuity with the thermal insulation of the ceiling wall 11 of the tank.

[0058] The closing plate 25 further forms a protection which protects the dome structure 19 and more particularly the barrel 22 as well as the insulating lining 30 against the phenomena of sloshing of the liquefied gas which would be likely to damage them.

[0059] Furthermore, the closing plate 25 also allows the installation near the ceiling wall 11 of the tank, of a spraying device 35, shown in the figures 3 And 6, intended to spray liquefied gas into the internal space of the tank. Such a spraying device allows in particular the cooling of the tank, prior to loading the liquefied gas inside the tank. This cooling aims to reduce the temperature inside the tank, in particular in order to avoid excessive vaporization of the liquefied gas during loading, limit the intensity of thermal stresses in certain components housed in the tank and avoid situations likely to harm the safety of the tank and / or its integrity. The spraying device 35 comprises the pipe 31 which successively passes through the barrel 22 or the ceiling 23 of the dome structure 19 and the insulating lining 30 which is housed in the barrel 22. The pipe 31 also passes through the orifice 29 made in the closing plate 25. The pipe 31 joins a spray ramp 36, illustrated in the Figure 6, which is fixed against the lower surface of the closing plate 25.

[0060] The spray bar 36 comprises a plurality of spray nozzles 37. The spray nozzles 37 are oriented so as to ensure a distribution of the gas spray in the internal space of the tank. According to the embodiment variant shown, the spray bar 36 has an annular shape and the spray nozzles 37 are regularly distributed around the central axis of said annular shape. The spray bar 36 can be fixed to the internal surface of the closure plate 25 by any suitable means, such as fixing collars or fixing clips, for example.

[0061] The pipe 20 is intended for loading liquefied gas into the tank. It passes through the drum 22 and has a bent portion extended by a vertical portion which passes through the closing plate 25. The lower end of the pipe 20 therefore opens into the internal space of the tank. In addition, the pipe 20 is connected outside the tank to a loading pipeline which comprises a manifold intended to be connected to a maritime or port terminal or to a bunkering vessel.

[0062] The line 21 is intended for the discharge of liquefied gas from the tank. In the embodiment shown, the line 21 passes through the ceiling 23 of the dome structure 19 and then passes through the closure plate 25. The line 21 extends over substantially the entire height of the tank up to near the bottom wall of the tank. The line 21 is further equipped with an unloading pump, not shown.

[0063] The dome structure 19 may also be equipped with level sensors as well as a temperature measuring device which comprises a plurality of temperature sensors which are vertically distributed in the internal space of the tank. The level sensors and the temperature sensors are, for example, mounted along vertical uprights which pass through one of the openings of the closing plate 25 and which each extend along one of the pipes 20, 21, 31 and are fixed thereto.

[0064] THE figures 7 and 8 illustrate a dome structure according to another embodiment. This embodiment differs from that described above in relation to the figures 3 to 6, in particular in that the installation comprises a pipe 38 for discharging gas in the vapor phase, in that the dome structure 19 comprises a second closure plate 39 and in that the closure plate 25 as well as the second closure plate 39 are not fixed on the barrel 22 of the dome structure 19 but directly on the pipe 38. Such a pipe 38 makes it possible to evacuate the gas in the vapor phase from the internal space of the tank in order to bring it for example to the propulsion system of a ship, a reliquefaction unit or a burner.

[0065] As shown in the figure 8, the closure plate 25 has an opening through which the pipe 38 passes. Furthermore, the closure plate 25 is fixed to the pipe 38 by means of gussets 40 which have an edge welded to the pipe 38 and an edge which is welded against the upper surface of the closure plate 25. In the embodiment shown, the closure plate 25 is fixed to a lower attached portion of the pipe 38 which is fixed to the rest of the pipe 38, for example by means of flanges equipped with bolts.

[0066] Furthermore, the second closure plate 39 is arranged parallel to the closure plate 25, below the latter and sheet metal plates 41 are arranged between the closure plate 25 and the second closure plate 39 and welded thereto. The sheet metal plates 41 thus provide the spacer function maintaining the spacing between the two closure plates 25 and 39 and the stiffener function reinforcing the rigidity of the closure plates 25 and 39. In the embodiment shown, the pipe 38 does not pass through the second closure plate 39 but the latter has an opening allowing the passage of gas in the vapor phase so as to allow the gas in the vapor phase stored in the internal space of the tank to join the pipe 38.

[0067] There figure 9illustrates a dome structure according to yet another embodiment. In this embodiment, the barrel 22 and ceiling 23 of the dome structure 19 are covered with an insulating lining 42 on their outer surface projecting from the upper load-bearing wall 3 in order to form a thermal continuity with the thermal insulation of the ceiling wall 11 of the tank. Furthermore, the dome structure 19 comprises a gas supply pipe 43 which opens into the interior of the barrel 22 as well as a pipe 44 which passes through an opening made in the closing plate 25 and has a lower end which opens into the internal space of the tank, for example near its bottom wall. The pipes 43 and 44 are, for example, likely to be used during operations of putting the tank into operation or maintenance, in particular for its reheating, its inerting or its aeration.Thus, for example, when inerting the tank, an inert gas is injected into the internal space of the tank via the gas supply pipe 43. The inert gas thus pushes the gas making up the initial atmosphere of the tank towards the bottom of the tank, like a piston, or it is sucked in via the pipe 44. It will thus be noted that for such an embodiment in which gas is injected inside the dome structure 19, it is more advantageous for the insulating lining 42 to be arranged outside and not inside the barrel 22 in order to limit pressure losses.

[0068] In reference to the Figure 10, a cutaway view of an LNG carrier 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealing membrane arranged between the primary sealing membrane and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary sealing membrane and the secondary sealing membrane and between the secondary sealing membrane and the double hull 72.

[0069] In a manner known per se, loading / unloading pipelines 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

[0070] There Figure 10also represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipeline 76 and an onshore installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a mobile arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the mobile arm 74. The mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipelines 73. The orientable mobile arm 74 adapts to all sizes of LNG carriers. A connecting pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the onshore installation 77. The latter comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75.The subsea pipeline 76 allows the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore installation 77 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0071] To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps equipping the onshore installation 77 and / or pumps equipping the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

[0072] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

[0073] The use of the verb "comprise", "comprise" or "include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

[0074] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

1. Facility for storing a liquefied gas including a supporting structure (1) and a sealed and thermally insulating tank arranged in the supporting structure (1), said sealed and thermally insulating tank having an internal space, the supporting structure (1) comprising an upper supporting wall (3) and the tank comprising a ceiling wall (11) secured to the upper supporting wall (3), the ceiling wall (11) comprising, in a thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the tank, at least one thermally insulating barrier (12, 15) and at least one sealing membrane (17) supported by the thermally insulating barrier (12, 15) and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank, the storage facility comprising a dome structure (19) passing through an opening (18) made in the ceiling wall (11) and in the upper supporting wall, (3), the dome structure (19) including a barrel (22) which extends in the thickness direction, said barrel (22) including a lower end (33) which is oriented towards the internal space of the tank and at least one closure plate (25, 39) which is positioned facing the lower end (33) of the barrel (22) in such a way as to cover same, the closure plate (25) including at least one hole (27, 28, 29), the storage facility including at least one pipe (20, 21, 31, 38, 44) which is intended to convey liquefied gas, said pipe (20, 21, 31) passing through the dome structure (19) and passing through the hole (27, 28, 29) made in the closure plate (25).

2. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 1, wherein the closure plate (25) is secured to the barrel (22) and the pipe (20, 21, 31) is mounted freely, in translation in the thickness direction, inside the hole (27, 28, 29).

3. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 2, wherein the closure plate (25) is secured to the barrel (22) by a plurality of securing elements (26).

4. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 3, wherein the securing elements are gussets (26) which are each secured, on the one hand, to an internal surface of the barrel (22) and, on the other hand, to an upper surface of the closure plate (25).

5. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 1, wherein the closure plate (25) is secured to the pipe (38) by means of at least two gussets (40).

6. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, including two closure plates (25, 39) secured to one another by at least two metal sheets (41) forming a spacer that maintains the gap between the two closure plates (25, 39).

7. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the dome structure (19) includes an insulating packing (30) which fills the interior of the barrel (22) and which rests on the closure plate (25).

8. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 7, wherein a mesh (34) is interposed between the insulating packing (30) and the closure plate (25).

9. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the insulating packing (30) is selected from among glass wool, rock wool and insulating foam.

10. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the dome structure (19) includes an insulating packing (42) which covers an outer surface (30) of the barrel (22) which protrudes beyond the upper supporting wall (3) of the supporting structure (1).

11. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the pipe is connected to a spray bar (36) which is secured to the closure plate (25) and which includes one or more spray nozzles (37).

12. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 11, wherein the spray bar (36) has an annular shape.

13. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the closure plate (25) is arranged in the internal space of the sealed and thermally insulating tank, at a distance from the lower end (33) of the barrel (22).

14. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein, in vertical projection in the plane of the lower end (33) of the barrel (22), the closure plate (25) covers at least 80% of the section of the lower end (33) of the barrel (22).

15. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the closure plate (25) includes a plurality of holes (27, 28, 29) and the liquefied gas storage facility includes a plurality of pipes (20, 21, 31) intended to convey liquefied gas, each pipe (20, 21, 31) passing through the dome structure (19) and passing through one of the holes (27, 28, 29) made in the closure plate (25).

16. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 15, wherein at least one of the pipes (21) is intended for unloading liquefied gas stored in the tank, said pipe (21) extending as far as the vicinity of a bottom wall of the tank and being equipped with an unloading pump.

17. Facility for storing a liquefied gas according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein at least one of the pipes (20) is intended for loading liquefied gas stored in the tank.

18. Carrier (70) for transporting a fluid, the carrier including a hull (72) and a facility for storing a liquefied gas according to any one of Claims 1 to 17, the hull of the carrier (70) forming the supporting structure.

19. System for transferring a liquefied gas, the system comprising a carrier (70) according to Claim 18, insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged so as to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull of the carrier to a floating or onshore storage facility (77), and a pump for pumping a fluid through the insulated pipelines from or to the floating or onshore storage facility, to or from the tank of the carrier.

20. Method for loading or unloading a carrier (70) according to Claim 18, wherein a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or onshore storage facility (77), to or from the tank of the carrier (71).

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