Waterproof and thermally insulating tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank, comprising a sealed membrane (10) comprising a plurality of strakes (11) comprising at least one longitudinal corrugation (13) projecting towards the inside of the tank, the tank wall comprising a corner beam (30) comprising a first and a second lateral wing (31, 32), connected to each other at a sealed connection zone (33), at least one of the first and second lateral wings of the corner beam (30) comprising a receiving strip (34) which extends from the connection zone, moving away from the latter in which a distal portion (34A) of the receiving strip is welded to an end portion (15) of the strakes and has corrugated parts (35) arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations to terminate them at a distance from the connection zone. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Sealed and thermally insulating tank Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating membrane tanks. In particular, the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquid at low temperature, such as tanks for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -162°C at atmospheric pressure, liquid Hydrogen (LH2) at -253°C at atmospheric pressure, ammonia (NH3) at -30°C at atmospheric pressure or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG) having for example a temperature between -50°C and 0°C. These tanks can be installed on land or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank can be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or for receiving liquefied gas used as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.In the case of a land-based tank or port storage structure, it may rest on the ground or seabed and may be partially or completely buried. Technological background

[0002] For example, document WO2021074435 discloses a sealed and thermally insulating tank integrated into a supporting structure, the tank comprising a first tank wall fixed to a first supporting wall and a second tank wall fixed to a second supporting wall joining the first supporting wall at an edge of the supporting structure, in which each of the first and second tank walls comprises at least one sealed membrane and an insulating barrier arranged between the sealed membrane and the supporting wall. The sealed membrane comprises a plurality of strakes made of an alloy with a low coefficient of expansion, a strake comprising a flat central portion resting on an upper surface of the insulating barrier and two raised edges projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the central portion, the strakes being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealed manner at the raised edges.

[0003] The tank wall further comprises a metal corner beam arranged parallel to the edge and anchored to the first and second load-bearing walls, the corner beam comprising a first flat wing parallel to the first load-bearing wall and a second flat wing parallel to the second load-bearing wall, the two flat wings being rigidly connected to each other at a sealed connection zone forming an angle of the sealed membrane, each of the first and second flat wings having a receiving strip which extends away from the edge from the zone of connection. In this tank, an end portion of the strakes of the waterproof membrane is welded to a distal portion of the receiving strips Summary of the invention

[0004] An idea underlying the invention is to provide a sealed and thermally insulating tank in which the sealed membrane can be manufactured with a high level of reliability and longevity.

[0005] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank, integrated in a supporting structure comprising a first supporting wall and a second supporting wall joining the first supporting wall at an edge of the supporting structure, the tank comprising a first tank wall fixed to the first supporting wall and a second tank wall fixed to the second supporting wall, wherein at least one or each of the first and second tank walls comprises at least one waterproof membrane and an insulating barrier arranged between the waterproof membrane and the corresponding load-bearing wall, wherein the waterproof membrane comprises a plurality of strakes, a strake comprising a flat portion resting on an internal surface of the insulating barrier and at least one longitudinal corrugation projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion of the strake, said or each longitudinal corrugation being spaced from the longitudinal edges of the strake, the strakes being juxtaposed and welded together in a watertight manner at said longitudinal edges, the tank wall comprising a metal corner beam arranged parallel to the edge of the supporting structure and anchored to the first and second supporting walls, the corner beam comprising a first lateral wing parallel to the first supporting wall and a second lateral wing parallel to the second supporting wall, the two lateral wings being connected to each other at a sealed connection zone, at least one or each of the first and second lateral wings of the corner beam comprising a receiving strip which extends from the connection zone, away from the connection zone, wherein an end portion of the strakes is welded to a distal portion of the receiving strip, the receiving strip of said at least one or each of the side wings having corrugated portions arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations of the strakes to terminate the longitudinal corrugations at a distance from the bonding zone.

[0006] Thanks to the corrugated parts of the receiving strip which receive the ends of the longitudinal corrugations and terminate them in a sealed manner by connection with the flat part of the receiving strip, it is possible to maximize the length of the corrugations. longitudinal undulations along the strake. The flexibility of the corresponding waterproof membrane introduced by the presence of the longitudinal undulations is thus optimized.

[0007] Thanks to these characteristics, the secondary and / or primary membrane has appropriate flexibility allowing it to withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses experienced during its use in the tank wall. The tank obtained is particularly solid.

[0008] Furthermore, it is possible to use strakes that do not have longitudinal edges raised towards the inside of the tank. This avoids producing a concentration of mechanical stresses at the junction between the raised edges of the strake and the flat flange of the corner beam.

[0009] According to embodiments, such a tank may comprise one or more of the following characteristics.

[0010] According to one embodiment, at least one or each of the corrugated parts is made in one piece with said receiving strip, for example by stamping.

[0011] Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to limit the number of parts required for the manufacture of the membrane.

[0012] According to one embodiment, at least one or each of the corrugated portions comprises a piece attached to a flat portion of the receiving strip of the side wing.

[0013] Thanks to these characteristics, the manufacture of the receiving strip does not require stamping.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the corrugated portion has a shape suitable for covering the longitudinal end of a longitudinal corrugation and extending it onto the lateral wing in the direction of the connecting zone.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the insulating barrier comprises insulating blocks and each strake comprises a longitudinal attachment element adapted to cooperate in retention with the insulating blocks of the insulating barrier to retain the strake in a thickness direction of the tank wall, while allowing movement of the strake along a longitudinal direction of the strake.

[0016] Thanks to these characteristics, the flexibility of the waterproof membrane is improved while guaranteeing waterproof assembly of the strakes.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the attachment element extends along a first longitudinal edge of the strake and comprises a portion of the first longitudinal edge of the strake folded towards the insulating barrier and extending in projection from the flat portion of the strake.

[0018] Thanks to these characteristics, each strake can be hooked onto the insulating barrier underlying.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the strake comprises, along its second longitudinal edge, a rim extending projecting from the flat portion of the strake, opposite the attachment element of the first longitudinal edge, the rim covering a part of the flat portion of an adjacent strake, the covered part extending along the first longitudinal edge of the adjacent strake.

[0020] Thanks to these characteristics, each strake can be welded to the adjacent strake.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the attachment element is received in a groove provided in the insulating barrier and opening onto the internal surface.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the attachment element cooperates in retention with a surface of a wall of the groove or with a retention element attached to the groove.

[0023] According to one embodiment, a portion of the attachment element is received in a groove provided in a lateral face of the insulating blocks forming the insulating barrier.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the attachment element is received in a space separating two adjacent insulating blocks.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the attachment element cooperates in a retaining manner with a complementary attachment element which extends into the space separating the two adjacent insulating blocks.

[0026] According to one embodiment, each strake comprises one or two longitudinal undulations.

[0027] Alternatively, it is possible to provide a number of undulations greater than two.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the corner beam comprises at least two support wings, connected to each of the first and second load-bearing walls, said support wings being arranged substantially in the extension of the lateral wings of the corner beam.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the strakes are made from an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically less than or equal to 2.106 K1, for example in the alloy called “Invar”. According to another embodiment, the strakes are made from an alloy of iron and manganese whose coefficient of expansion is less than or equal to 9.106 K1. This alloy generally makes it possible to reduce costs.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the width of the strakes of the waterproof membrane is equal to the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier or equal to half the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier.

[0031] The structure described above can be used to produce a secondary waterproof membrane and / or a primary waterproof membrane of a waterproof and thermally insulating tank.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the waterproof membrane constitutes a waterproof membrane secondary and is topped with a primary insulating barrier and a primary waterproof membrane. The primary waterproof membrane may be similar to this secondary waterproof membrane or have a different structure. According to one embodiment, the primary membrane comprises a plurality of primary strakes, a primary strake comprising a flat portion resting on an internal surface of the primary insulating barrier and two primary longitudinal raised edges projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion of the primary strake. According to another embodiment, the primary membrane comprises corrugations in two intersecting directions.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the primary waterproof membrane comprises a plurality of primary strakes, a primary strake comprising a flat portion resting on an internal surface of the primary insulating barrier and at least one primary longitudinal corrugation projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion of the primary strake, said or each primary longitudinal corrugation being spaced from the longitudinal edges of the primary strake, the primary strakes being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealed manner at said longitudinal edges, the metal corner beam further comprises a first primary lateral flange parallel to the first load-bearing wall and a second primary lateral flange parallel to the second load-bearing wall, the two primary lateral flanges being connected to each other at a primary sealed connection zone,at least one or each first and second primary side flanges of the corner beam having a receiving strip extending from the primary sealed connection area, away from the primary sealed connection area, , wherein a distal portion of the receiving strip of the primary lateral wings of the corner beam is welded to an end portion of the primary strakes of the primary waterproof membrane, the receiving strip of the primary lateral wings having corrugated portions arranged in alignment with the primary longitudinal corrugations of the primary strakes to terminate the primary longitudinal corrugations at a distance from the primary waterproof connection zone.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the corner beam further comprises primary lateral wings and primary support wings connected to each of the first and second load-bearing walls and arranged substantially in the extension of the primary lateral wings of the corner beam.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the waterproof membrane constitutes a primary waterproof membrane and the insulating barrier constitutes a primary insulating barrier, and the tank wall comprises a secondary insulating barrier and a secondary waterproof membrane arranged between the primary insulating barrier and the supporting structure.

[0036] The secondary waterproof membrane may be similar to this waterproof membrane primary or present a different structure.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the invention further provides a vessel for transporting a fluid, the vessel comprising a double hull and a as previously described disposed in the double hull.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the invention further provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising a vessel as described above, 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 fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the tank of the vessel.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the invention further provides a method for loading or unloading a ship as described above, in which a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or land-based storage facility to or from the tank of the ship. Brief description of the figures

[0040] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, 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 appended drawings.

[0041] [Fig.l] is a partial schematic perspective view of a corner area of ​​a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to a first embodiment, showing a portion of the secondary insulating barrier and the secondary sealed membrane;

[0042] [Fig. 2] is a partial schematic perspective view of a connection area between the strakes and the side wing of the corner beam of a watertight and thermally insulating tank wall according to a variant of the first embodiment of [Fig.l] in which a single longitudinal corrugation is provided per strake;

[0043] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of a detail of [Fig.1] or [Fig.2];

[0044] [Fig.4] is a schematic sectional view of the tank wall of [Fig.l], showing a strake of the secondary waterproof membrane during assembly;

[0045] [Fig.5] is an enlarged schematic view of a detail of the tank wall of the [Fig.4] after assembly of the strake;

[0046] [Fig.6], [Fig.7], [Fig.8], [Fig.9] are enlarged schematic sectional views of a tank wall according to variants of the first embodiment;

[0047] [Fig. 10] is a partial schematic perspective view of the first mode of rea [Fig.l] view, showing part of the primary and secondary insulating barriers and the primary and secondary waterproof membranes;

[0048] [Fig. 11] is a partial schematic perspective view of a corner area of a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to a second embodiment, showing a part of the secondary insulating barrier and the secondary sealed membrane;

[0049] [Fig.12] is an enlarged schematic view of a part of the tank of [Fig.11];

[0050] [Fig. 13] is another partial schematic perspective view of the corner area of the sealed and thermally insulating tank according to the second embodiment;

[0051] [Fig. 14] is a partial perspective view of a corner area of ​​a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to a third embodiment;

[0052] [Fig. 15] is a cutaway schematic representation of an LNG carrier and a loading / unloading terminal for that carrier. Description of the embodiments

[0053] The attached figures show different embodiments of a sealed and thermally insulating tank. Identical or corresponding elements of the tank shown in these figures will be referenced by identical signs and will not be described each time.

[0054] In Figures 1, 10, 11, 13 and 14, a partial view of a first (Figures 1 and 10), a second ([Fig. 11] and 13) and a third ([Fig. 14]) embodiment of a sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage and / or transport of a liquid at low temperature, 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.

[0055] The fluid is in particular a cryogenic fluid transported at low temperatures. It may be a liquefied gas, in particular a liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is to say a gas mixture comprising mainly methane as well as one or more other hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, n-butane, i-butane, n-pentane, i-pentane, neopentane, and nitrogen in small proportion.

[0056] The liquefied gas can also be ethane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), i.e. a mixture of hydrocarbons from oil refining, essentially comprising propane and butane.

[0057] Alternatively, the liquefied gas may be liquid hydrogen (LH2) stored at -253°C at atmospheric pressure, or ammonia (NH3) stored at -30°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0058] The sealed and thermally insulating tank is integrated into a supporting structure 4. The supporting structure 4 comprises a plurality of supporting walls 1, 2 defining the general shape of the tank, usually a polyhedral shape. It comprises in particular a first supporting wall 1 and a second supporting wall 2 joining the first load-bearing wall at an edge 3 of the load-bearing structure 4, forming a dihedral angle which could have different values. Here, an angle of 90° is shown.

[0059] The supporting structure of the tank is here constituted by the internal hull of a double-hulled ship. The first supporting wall 1 is for example a bottom wall of the ship, while the second supporting wall 2 is for example a transverse partition, which partially defines a compartment in the internal hull of the ship.

[0060] The tank comprises a first tank wall fixed to the first load-bearing wall 1 and a second tank wall fixed to the second load-bearing wall 2.

[0061] Each of the first and second tank walls 1, 2 comprises at least one waterproof membrane 10 and an insulating barrier 20 interposed between the waterproof membrane 10 and the corresponding load-bearing wall 1, 2.

[0062] In Figures 1, 10 and 11, only the first tank wall is shown. Figures 13 and 14 show a portion of the second tank wall. The second tank wall may be identical to the first tank wall shown and described, except that it extends parallel to the second load-bearing wall 2 and not parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1, as is the case with the first tank wall. Only the first tank wall will be described below.

[0063] Alternatively, it is possible to envisage that the second tank wall has different characteristics.

[0064] As is the case in the various embodiments shown and described below, the insulating barrier 20 may constitute a secondary insulating barrier 20 and the waterproof membrane 10 may constitute a secondary waterproof membrane 10. The secondary insulating barrier 20 is retained on the load-bearing wall 1, 2 and the secondary waterproof membrane 10 rests against the secondary insulating barrier 20.

[0065] Each tank wall of the first, second and third embodiments described below further comprises here a primary waterproof membrane 10' intended to be in contact with the liquid at low temperature and a primary insulating barrier 20' arranged between the primary waterproof membrane 10' and the secondary waterproof membrane 10. The primary insulating barrier 20' is retained on the secondary waterproof membrane 10. A portion of the primary waterproof membrane 10' and the primary insulating barrier 20' is shown in Figures 10 and 14 for the tank wall fixed to the first supporting wall 1. The primary waterproof membrane 10' and the insulating barrier 20' are optional.As will be described below, in the first and second embodiments, the primary stage of each tank wall, comprising the primary insulating barrier 20', the primary waterproof membrane 10' and the structural elements for fixing these to the corresponding corner beam is here identical to the secondary stage of each tank wall comprising the insulating barrier. secondary 20, the secondary waterproof membrane 10 and the structural elements for fixing these to the corresponding corner beam.

[0066] Alternatively, it may be envisaged that only the primary stage or the secondary stage of the tank wall has the characteristics described below, and that the other stage has different characteristics, for example in accordance with the state of the art. In the third embodiment described with reference to [Fig. 14], the primary membrane 10' is different from the secondary membrane 10 and does not have longitudinal undulations. The primary membrane here comprises a plurality of primary strakes each comprising a flat portion resting on an internal surface 21' of the primary insulating barrier 20' and two primary longitudinal raised edges 418' projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion of the primary strake.

[0067] The primary 20' and / or secondary 20 insulating barrier is produced by the juxtaposition of insulating blocks 22, 22'. These insulating blocks 22, 22' generally have a parallelepiped shape with two main faces 21A, 21B parallel to the load-bearing wall 1, 2 on which the corresponding tank wall is fixed. The two main faces 21A, 21B are connected by lateral faces 21C ([Fig.4]). The insulating blocks 22, 22' of each insulating barrier are aligned with each other in a regular manner and delimit between them spaces 28 (figures 4 and 9) filled by insulating joints. In the first and third embodiments, retaining members 50 ([Fig.4]) are arranged at the corners of the insulating blocks 22, 22' and anchor four adjacent insulating blocks 22 in the corresponding load-bearing wall 1.

[0068] Such retaining members 50 can be produced in different ways and are for example described in more detail in document WO2019 / 110894.

[0069] The main faces 21A, 21A' of the insulating blocks facing the inside of the tank form the internal surface 21, 21' of the primary or secondary insulating barrier 20', 20.

[0070] The insulating blocks 22, 22' can be produced in different ways. Each insulating block 22, 22' comprises for example a bottom plate 23 and a cover plate 24, as well as at least one layer of thermally insulating foam 25 interposed between the bottom plate 23 and the cover plate 24 ([Fig.4]). This is the case here for the first and second embodiments. Such insulating blocks can be produced in different ways and are for example described in more detail in WO2021239767.

[0071] The foam layer 25 is arranged between the cover plate 24 and the bottom plate 23.

[0072] The base plates 23 and cover 24 are glued onto the foam layer(s) 25.

[0073] The thermally insulating foam is, for example, a polyurethane foam, optionally reinforced with glass fibers, having, for example, a density of the order of, or even greater than, 130 kg.m3.

[0074] The foam layer 25 has at each of its corners a recess intended to receive the retaining member 50 visible in FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0075] The insulating blocks 22, 22' can also be made of boxes filled with insulating material, as in the third embodiment of [Fig. 14].

[0076] At the angle between the two tank walls, the secondary watertight membranes 10 of the two tank walls and the primary watertight membranes 10' of the two tank walls are connected in a watertight manner by a connecting ring in the form of an angle beam 30; 330; 430 which makes it possible to take up the tension forces resulting from thermal contraction, deformation of the hull at sea and movements of the cargo. Possible structures of the angle beam 30; 330; 430 are for example described in more detail in FR2549575 or WO2021074435.

[0077] In the first embodiment of [Fig. 1] and the third embodiment of [Fig. 14], the corner beam 30, 430 comprises, for example, four metal cross-sections connected by metal plates to form a square-section tube 36; 436. This square-section tube 36; 436 is connected by first anchoring wings 37A, 37B to the first load-bearing wall 1 and by second anchoring wings 37C, 37D to the second load-bearing wall 2. The first anchoring wings 37A, 37B extend parallel to the second load-bearing wall 2 and the second anchoring wings 37C, 37D extend parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1. The first and second anchoring wings anchor the corner beam 30; 430 to the load-bearing structure 4.

[0078] To produce the corner beam 30; 430 along the entire length of the edge 3, it is preferable to use several successive segments, the length of which is adapted to the handling conditions, for example 1 to 3 meters per segment, as can be seen in [Fig.l].

[0079] Insulating parts are also preferably provided, housed between the load-bearing walls and the corner beam and / or inside the corner beam when the latter is in the form of a square-section tube.

[0080] The secondary waterproof membrane 10 comprises a plurality of secondary strakes 11; 411 assembled together in a sealed manner and the primary waterproof membrane 10' comprises a plurality of primary strakes 11'; 411' assembled together in a sealed manner.

[0081] Each secondary strake 11, 411 and each primary strake 11', 411' is in the form of a metal strip elongated in a longitudinal direction D. It is delimited by two longitudinal edges 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B'; 414A, 414B, 414A', 414B' extending parallel to the longitudinal direction D of the strake. secondary 11; 411 or primary 11'; 411' and by two end edges 15, 16, 15', 16'; 415, 415' which extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D.

[0082] The secondary strakes 11; 411 and primary strakes 11', 411' are juxtaposed in parallel and welded together in a sealed manner at the level of said longitudinal edges 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B'; 414A, 414B, 414A', 414B' as will be described in more detail later.

[0083] The strakes 11, 11'; 411, 411' are, for example, made of Invar®, that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically less than or equal to 2.106 K *, preferably between 1.2.10 6 and 2.106 K '. In this case, the strakes may have, for example, a thickness of the order of 0.7 millimeters (mm). Alternatively, the strakes may be made of an alloy of iron and manganese whose coefficient of expansion is typically less than or equal to 9.106 K 1, preferably between 7.106 and 9.106 K1. In the case of a ship's tank, the strakes are preferably oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ship.

[0084] In the first and second embodiments described here, the primary waterproof membrane 10' is similar to the secondary waterproof membrane 10. The strakes of two membranes are preferably made of an iron alloy with a high manganese content whose coefficient of expansion is typically less than or equal to 9.106 K 1, preferably between 7.106 and 9.106 K1.

[0085] Each secondary 11 and primary 11' strake comprises a flat portion 12, 12' resting on the internal surface 21, 21' of the insulating barrier 20, 20' and at least one longitudinal corrugation 13, 13' projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11. In the first and second embodiments, two longitudinal corrugations 13, 13' are provided per secondary 11 (Figures 1 and 11) or primary 11' ([Fig. 10]) strake. [Fig. 2] shows a variant of the first embodiment, in which a single longitudinal corrugation 13 is provided per secondary 11 strake.

[0086] Preferably one, two or more longitudinal undulations are provided, to the exclusion of other undulations extending in a different direction. In other words, the strake comprises one or more undulations only in the longitudinal direction.

[0087] Said or each longitudinal corrugation 13, 13' is spaced from the longitudinal edges 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B' of the strake 11, 11'. In practice, each longitudinal corrugation 13, 13' is for example spaced from the longitudinal edge 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B' of the strake 11, 11' by at least 50 mm, for example 125 mm or 170 mm or 250 mm depending on the number of corrugations per strake and the width of the strakes, namely approximately 500 mm or 1000 mm.

[0088] In the third embodiment, the secondary strakes 411 of the secondary waterproof membrane 10 have the characteristics described above: they comprise a flat portion 412 resting on the internal surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20 and at least one longitudinal corrugation 413 projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion 412 of the strake 11. Two longitudinal corrugations 413 are provided per strake 411. In addition, the longitudinal edges 414A, 414B of each strake 411 are raised, i.e. folded towards the inside of the tank.

[0089] The primary strakes 411' of the primary waterproof membrane 10' of the third embodiment do not have any longitudinal undulation and have raised longitudinal edges 414A', 414B'.

[0090] The corner beam 30; 330; 430 further comprises a first lateral wing 31; 331; 431 parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 and a second lateral wing 32 parallel to the second load-bearing wall 2. The two lateral wings allow the secondary waterproof membranes 10 to be fixed.

[0091] The two lateral wings 31, 32; 331; 431 are connected to each other at a sealed connection zone 33; 333; 433 of the corner beam 30; 330; 430.

[0092] The arrangement of the secondary waterproof membranes of the first and third embodiments is described hereinafter.

[0093] In the case of the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 10 and the third embodiment of [Fig. 14], in which a corner beam forming a tube with a square section is provided, the sealed connection zone 33; 433 has a staircase shape, comprising the metal plates of the corner beam 30; 430 forming the internal angle of the corner beam oriented towards the center of the tank.

[0094] Each lateral wing 31, 32; 431 of the corner beam 30; 430 extends in the extension of one of the anchoring wings 37B, 37C of the corner beam 30; 430.

[0095] Each of the first and second lateral wings 31, 32; 431 of the corner beam 30; 430 here comprises a connecting portion 31A, 32A; 431A formed with the square-section tube 36; 436 and a receiving strip 34; 434 welded to the connecting portion 31A, 32A; 431A which extends from the connecting zone 33; 433, moving away from the connecting zone 33; 433 in the extension of the corresponding connecting portion 31A, 32A; 431A. In [Fig.l], only a portion of the receiving strip 34 of the lateral wing 31 parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 is shown.

[0096] The receiving strip 34; 434 of the lateral wing 31, 32; 431 of the corner beam 30; 430 is produced by a series of furring strips having an end edge 34B; 434B continuously welded to the connecting part 31A, 32A; 431A of the corner beam 30; 430 to take up the tension forces.

[0097] The receiving strip 34; 434 comprises a planar portion 34C; 434C which extends in the extension of the corresponding connecting part 31 A, 32A; 431 and a distal portion 34A; 434A welded continuously and tightly to an end portion of the strakes 11; 411. This distal portion 34A; 434A corresponds to the edge of the receiving strip 34; 434 opposite the end edge 34B; 434B welded to the connecting part 31 A, 32A; 431A of the lateral wing 31, 32; 431 of the corner beam.

[0098] The distal portion 34A, 434A of the receiving strip 34; 434 covers the end edge 15; 415 of each strake 11; 411. For this purpose, it forms a sidewalk whose height is substantially equal to the thickness of the strake 11, 411, so that the flat part 34C; 434C of the receiving strip 34; 434 extends in the same plane as the flat part of the strakes 11; 411.

[0099] The end edge 15; 415 of each strake 11; 411 has a complex profile because each longitudinal wave 13; 413 of the strake 11; 411 extends to this end edge 15; 415. The longitudinal wave 13; 413 has a constant height over its entire length.

[0100] Thus, the receiving strip 34; 434 of the lateral wings 31, 32; 431 has corrugated parts 35; 435 arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations 13; 413 of the strakes 11; 411 to terminate the longitudinal corrugations 13; 413 at a distance from the connecting zone 33; 433.

[0101] Each corrugated portion 35; 435 extends from the distal portion 34A, 434A of the receiving strip, towards the connecting portion of the corner beam 30; 430, over a distance preferably greater than 70 mm and less than 800 mm. This distance is preferably less than half the width of the receiving strip measured between the free edge of the distal portion 34A; 434A and the end edge 34B; 434B).

[0102] The distance over which the corrugated portion 35; 435 extends is greater the greater the width of the receiving strip. This makes it possible to reduce the stresses in the direction parallel to the edge.

[0103] Each corrugated portion 35; 435 has a shape adapted to cover the longitudinal end of a longitudinal corrugation 13; 413 and to extend it on the lateral wing 31, 32; 431 in the direction of the connecting zone 33; 433.

[0104] More precisely, as is more particularly visible in [Fig. 3] in the case of the first embodiment, the corrugated part 35 of the receiving strip 34 can be formed with the receiving strip 34. It is for example produced by stamping the metal plate forming the receiving strip 34. The receiving strip is for example produced in one of the iron and nickel or iron and manganese alloys described above.

[0105] The corrugated portion 35 of the receiving strip comprises, along the distal portion 34A of the receiving strip, a first part 35A whose surface oriented towards the strake has a shape adapted to match the contour of the longitudinal corrugation 13. The corrugated part 35 also comprises a second part 35B which continuously connects the first part 35A of the corrugated part 35 to the flat part 34C of the receiving strip 34.

[0106] The receiving strip 435 of the third embodiment can be made in a similar manner.

[0107] As mentioned previously, the tank wall may comprise only one insulating barrier and one waterproof membrane such as that described above.

[0108] When the tank wall further comprises a primary insulating barrier 20' and a primary waterproof membrane 10', these can be produced in a manner entirely similar to the secondary insulating barrier 20 and the secondary waterproof membrane 10 described above, as is the case in the first embodiment ([Fig. 10]). As shown in [Fig. 10], the primary insulating blocks 22' can be arranged in alignment with the insulating blocks of the secondary insulating barrier 20. They are fixed to the secondary waterproof membrane 10.

[0109] The corner beam 30 then comprises two other lateral wings parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 and second load-bearing wall 2 for fixing the primary strakes 11' of the primary membrane 10'.

[0110] The two lateral wings are connected to each other at the level of the watertight connection zone 33 of the corner beam 30 and extend in the extension of one of the anchoring wings 37B, 37C of the corner beam 30.

[0111] Each of the other side wings comprises a primary connecting portion 31A', 32A' formed integrally with the square-section tube 36 and a primary receiving strip 34' welded to the primary connecting portion 31A', 32A', which extends from the connecting area 33, away from the connecting area 33 in the extension of the corresponding primary connecting portion 31A', 32A'. In [Fig.l 1], only a portion of the primary receiving strip 34' of the other side wing parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 is shown.

[0112] The primary receiving strip 34' of the primary stage is made in a similar manner to the receiving strip 34 of the secondary stage.

[0113] The primary waterproof membrane 10' is produced in a similar manner to the secondary waterproof membrane 10, by a series of primary strakes 11' identical to the secondary strakes 11 of the secondary waterproof membrane 10, as described previously. The strakes 11' comprise in particular one or two longitudinal undulations 13'.

[0114] Thus, the primary receiving strip 34' comprises a flat part 34C' which extends in the extension of the corresponding primary connection part 31A', 32A' and a distal portion 34A' welded continuously and tightly to a end portion of the primary strakes 11'. This distal portion 34A' corresponds to the edge of the primary receiving strip 34' opposite the end edge 34A' welded to the primary connecting part 31A', 32A'.

[0115] The primary receiving strip 34' has corrugated portions 35' arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations 13' of the primary strakes 11' of the primary membrane 10' to terminate the longitudinal corrugations 13' at a distance from the connecting zone 33.

[0116] The fixing of the primary strakes 11' of the primary waterproof membrane 10' on the insulating blocks of the primary insulating barrier can be done in a similar manner to the fixing of the secondary strakes 11, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9.

[0117] Alternatively, the insulating blocks 22' of the primary insulating barrier 20' may be arranged in a staggered pattern, straddling four adjacent secondary insulating blocks. In this case, the fixing elements projecting from the secondary insulating barrier are provided. This is the case, for example, in the second embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 13.

[0118] According to this second embodiment, the corner beam 330 comprises a single metal cross profile connected by anchoring wings 337A, 337B to the first and second load-bearing walls 1, 2.

[0119] The corner beam 330 comprises the first lateral wing 331 parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 and the second lateral wing 332 parallel to the second load-bearing wall 2.

[0120] The two lateral wings 331, 332 are connected to each other at the level of the sealed connection zone 333 of the corner beam 330.

[0121] In the case of the second embodiment of [Fig.l 1], the connecting zone 333 corresponds to the angle of the cross profile connecting the lateral wings 331, 332.

[0122] Each lateral wing 331, 332 of the corner beam 30 extends in the extension of one of the anchoring wings 337B, 337C of the corner beam 330.

[0123] Each of the first and second lateral wings 331, 332 of the corner beam 330 comprises a connecting portion 331A, 332A formed with the cross profile and a receiving strip 334 welded to the connecting portion 331A, 332A, which extends from the connecting zone 333, moving away from the connecting zone 333 in the extension of the corresponding connecting portion 331A, 332A.

[0124] The receiving strip 334 comprises a flat portion 334C which extends in the extension of the corresponding connecting portion 331 A, 332A and a distal portion 334A welded continuously and tightly to an end portion of the strakes 11. This distal portion 334A corresponds to the edge of the receiving strip 334 opposite the end edge 334B welded to the connecting portion 331 A, 332A of the side wing 331, 332 of the corner beam 330.

[0125] The secondary waterproof membrane 10 comprises a plurality of secondary strakes 11 as described previously, assembled together in a waterproof manner.

[0126] Each secondary strake 11 comprises, as described previously, a flat portion 12 resting on the internal surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20 and at least one longitudinal corrugation 13 projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11. Two longitudinal corrugations 13 are provided here per secondary strake 11.

[0127] In the second embodiment, the distal portion 334A of the receiving strip 334 extends here in the extension of the flat part 334C. This distal portion 334A is covered by an end edge 15 of each secondary strake 11. The end edge 15 of each secondary strake 11 forms for this purpose a pavement between two longitudinal undulations 13. The height of this pavement is substantially equal to the thickness of the flat part of the receiving strip 334, so that the flat part 334C of the receiving strip 334 extends in the same plane as the flat part 12 of the secondary strakes 11.

[0128] Furthermore, the receiving strip 334 of the lateral wings 331, 332 has corrugated parts 335 arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations 13 of the secondary strakes 11 to terminate the longitudinal corrugations 13 at a distance from the connecting zone 333.

[0129] Each corrugated portion 335 has a shape adapted to cover the longitudinal end of a longitudinal corrugation 13 and to extend it on the lateral wing 331, 332 in the direction of the connecting zone 333.

[0130] More precisely, the corrugated part 335 here comprises a piece added to the flat part 334C of the receiving strip 334 of the lateral wing 331, 332. This added piece is shown more particularly in [Fig. 12].

[0131] It comprises a horseshoe-shaped base 336, comprising a first flat part 336A applied against the flat part 334C of the receiving strip 334 and a free edge 337 connected to the first flat part 336A by a notch 337A so as to form a sidewalk. The free edge 337 covers the end edge 15 forming the sidewalk of the secondary strake 11 located outside the longitudinal undulation(s) 13.

[0132] The height of the step 337A is substantially equal to the thickness of the secondary strake 11, so that the flat part 336A of the base 336 extends in the same plane as the end edge of the secondary strake 11.

[0133] The base 336 is continuously connected to a curved part 338 adapted to match the shape of the longitudinal undulation 13 of the strake.

[0134] The free edge 337 and the curved part 338 of the corrugated part 335 are welded to the end edge 15 of the secondary strake in a sealed manner, while the first flat portion 336A of the base 336 of the corrugated portion 335 is welded to the receiving strip 334.

[0135] This arrangement has the same advantages as those provided by the corrugated portion stamped into the receiving strip. In addition, it can be implemented without stamping the receiving strip, by simply adding additional parts to form the corrugated portions.

[0136] In this second embodiment, the tank wall may further comprise a primary stage.

[0137] In this case, the corner beam 330 further comprises primary corner pieces, as described for example in WO2021074435. Each primary corner piece comprises an insulating piece in the form of an angle iron having two perpendicular wings whose thickness is substantially equal to the thickness of the primary insulating barrier. A metal angle iron is fixed to the upper surface of the insulating piece, along the angle. The insulating piece can be made in different ways, for example from solid plywood; from one or more blocks of a sandwich structure made of one or more layers of polymer foam and one or more rigid plates, for example from plywood; or in the form of one or more boxes filled with insulating material. The metal angle iron forms first and second lateral wings of the corner beam comprising the strake receiving strip.

[0138] For the fixing of the primary insulating barrier 20' and the primary waterproof membrane 10' (not shown), threaded studs 371 are carried by the receiving strip 334 to fix the primary corner pieces (not shown).

[0139] The fixing of the primary corner pieces by the threaded studs can be carried out in different ways, for example as described in WO2018087466.

[0140] Threaded studs 372 are also attached to the secondary insulating blocks to form retaining members for primary insulating blocks 22'.

[0141] In the third embodiment of the sealed and thermally insulating tank shown in [Fig. 14], the secondary 411 and primary 411' strakes have raised edges 418, 418'.

[0142] The secondary 10 and primary 10' waterproof membranes are each made up of a series of secondary 411 and primary 411' strakes made of invar parallel to raised edges 418, 418', which are arranged alternately with elongated welding supports 419, 419', also made of invar. The welding supports 419, 419' are each retained on the underlying insulating block 22, 22', for example by being housed in grooves 417, 417' formed in the cover plates 24 of the insulating blocks 22, 22'.

[0143] The insulating blocks 22, 22' are here for example made up of boxes filled with insulating material, for example perlite, glass wool or rock wool.

[0144] This alternating structure is produced over the entire surface of the tank walls, which may involve very long lengths. Over these long lengths, the watertight welds between the raised edges 418, 418' of the secondary 411 and primary 411' strakes and the weld supports 419, 419' interposed between them may be produced in the form of rectilinear weld beads parallel to the tank wall.

[0145] The corner beam 430 is similar to that of the first embodiment.

[0146] The secondary strakes 411 and primary strakes 411' with raised edges 418, 418' are not connected directly to the corner beam 430. As in the previous embodiments, a receiving strip 434 is interposed between them. The receiving strip 434, 434' has a flat portion and an end edge 434B, 434B' continuously welded to a connecting flange 431A of the corner beam 430 to absorb the tension forces. The receiving strip 434, 434' comprises a plurality of furring strips with raised edges 439, 439'. The raised edges 439, 439' of the furring strips have a complex profile with an inclined portion which rises progressively from the end edge 434B towards the strakes 11, 11', then a horizontal portion whose height is equal to the height of the raised edges of the strakes. The furring strips are welded edge to edge in a continuous and watertight manner at the upper edge of the raised edges 439, 439'.

[0147] The structure of this wall is described in more detail in document FR2968284.

[0148] Each secondary strake 411 of the secondary membrane 10 here comprises two undulations 413 and the receiving strip 434 of the secondary membrane 10 comprises undulated parts 435 which terminate the longitudinal undulations 413.

[0149] The secondary membrane 10 of the tank then combines the secondary strakes 411 with raised edges 418 and the longitudinal undulations 413, which provides particular flexibility to this secondary membrane.

[0150] In all the embodiments of the sealed and thermally insulating tank, the use of secondary strake 11 and / or primary strake 11' comprising longitudinal corrugations over their entire length, made possible by the presence of corrugated parts terminating these longitudinal corrugations at the level of the receiving strip, gives flexibility to the secondary and / or primary membrane allowing it to withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses undergone during its use in the tank wall.

[0151] Thanks to the corrugated parts 35; 335; 435 of the receiving strip 34; 334; 434 which receive the ends of the longitudinal corrugations 13; 413 and terminate them continuously by connecting with the flat part 34C; 334C; 434C of the receiving strip 34; 334; 434, it is possible to maximize the length of the longitudinal corrugations 13; 413 along the strake 11; 411. The flexibility of the corresponding waterproof membrane introduced by the presence of the longitudinal corrugations is thus optimized.

[0152] In the first and second embodiments, thanks to the presence of the longitudinal corrugations 13; 313 along the entire length of the strakes 11; 311 of the secondary waterproof membrane 10, it is furthermore possible to use strakes not having longitudinal edges raised towards the inside of the tank. This limits the concentration of stresses observed at the junction between the secondary strakes and the receiving strip when the secondary strakes have raised longitudinal edges.

[0153] For the assembly and the watertight connection of the secondary strakes 11 and / or primary strakes 11' not having raised edges between them, different solutions can be envisaged. Several solutions are shown for example in Figures 4 to 9 and are described below with reference to the secondary strakes 11 of the first embodiment of [Fig.l].

[0154] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, according to a first variant of the first embodiment, each secondary strake 11 has a width equivalent to the width of an insulating block 22 of the secondary insulating barrier 20. Each secondary strake 11 is arranged astride two insulating blocks 22 and covers half of each insulating block 22.

[0155] For fixing the secondary strakes 11 to the insulating blocks 22, the cover plate 24 of each insulating block 22 has a groove 26 formed in the internal surface 21 of the secondary insulating barrier 20. More precisely, the groove 26 is formed in the cover plate 24 of each insulating block 22. It extends parallel to the longitudinal direction D of the secondary strakes 11 and here has an inverted T profile. The groove 26 then has the advantage of being symmetrical.

[0156] Each secondary strake 11 comprises a longitudinal attachment element 40 adapted to cooperate with the insulating blocks 22 of the secondary insulating barrier 20 to retain the secondary strake 11 in the direction of the thickness of the tank wall, while allowing movement of the secondary strake 11 along the longitudinal direction D of the secondary strake 11.

[0157] The hooking element 40 extends along a first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake 11 and comprises a portion of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake 11 folded towards the insulating barrier 20 and extending projecting from the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11.

[0158] This variant is shown in more detail in [Fig. 5]. The first longitudinal edge 14A forming the attachment element 40 comprises a longitudinal falling wall 41 which extends from the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11 and is folded at a right angle relative to the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11, in the direction of the insulating barrier 20. This falling wall 41 is extended by a attachment wall 42 which extends parallel to the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11. The falling wall 41 extends into the portion of the groove 26 which opens onto the inner surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20, while the hooking wall 42 of the hooking element 40 extends into the portion of the groove 26 formed by the bar of the inverted T. Thus, the hooking wall 42 has a hooking surface 42A oriented towards the inside of the tank, which bears against an inner face 26A of the groove 26 to block the secondary strake 11 in the direction of the thickness of the tank wall.

[0159] The secondary strake 11 nevertheless remains free to slide in the groove 26, along the longitudinal direction D.

[0160] To insert the first longitudinal edge 14A into the groove 26, a pivoting movement of the secondary strake 11 is carried out, as shown in [Fig.4] by the arrow F.

[0161] In this first variant, the attachment element 40 cooperates in a retaining manner with the internal face 26A of a wall of the groove 26. According to a second variant shown in [Fig.6], the attachment element 40 cooperates in a retaining manner with a retaining element 60 fitted in the groove 26.

[0162] According to this second variant, the groove 126 arranged longitudinally in the cover plates 24 of the insulating blocks 22 has a bottom of which one longitudinal part has a depth greater than another longitudinal part. The longitudinal side walls of the groove 126 are straight.

[0163] The groove 126 receives a retaining element fitted into the groove, for example a cleat 60 of parallelepiped section. This cleat 60 is housed in the groove 126. It has dimensions which provide an L-shaped space 126A between the cleat 60 and the internal faces of the groove 126. More precisely, the space 126A is delimited between one of the longitudinal side walls of the groove 126 and the cleat 60 and between the longitudinal part of the bottom having the greatest depth and the cleat 60.

[0164] The retaining element is fixed in the groove 126, for example by screws 63 screwed through the retaining element 60 and the cover plate 24 and / or gluing.

[0165] The first longitudinal edge 14A forming the attachment element 40 of the secondary strake is identical to that of the first variant described above.

[0166] The falling wall 41 and the hooking wall 42 of the hooking element 40 extend into the space 126A formed by the cleat 60 in the groove 126. Thus, the hooking wall 42 has a hooking surface 42A oriented towards the inside of the tank, which bears against a face 61 of the cleat 60 oriented towards the load-bearing wall 1, 2 to block the strake 11 in the direction of the thickness of the tank wall.

[0167] According to a third variant shown in [Fig.7], the groove 226 has an L-shaped transverse section. Preferably, the opening of the groove 226 on the internal surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20 is sufficiently wide to allow the passage of the attachment wall 42 without pivoting. The first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 is then introduced into the groove 226 by a translational movement in the thickness direction of the tank wall, then by a sliding movement in a plane parallel to the internal surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20 which engages the attachment wall 42 of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake under a return of the cover plate 24 formed by the groove. The attachment surface 42A bears against a complementary face of this return. In the example of [Fig.7], the strake is furthermore blocked in the longitudinal direction D by the use of additional fixing elements such as screws 64 passing through the return of the cover plate and the attachment wall 42.

[0168] According to a fourth variant shown in [Fig.8], a part of the attachment element 40 is received in a groove 326 formed in a lateral face of the insulating blocks 22 forming the insulating barrier 20.

[0169] More precisely, here, the cover plate 24 comprises a groove 326 formed in a longitudinal lateral face of the cover plate 24. This groove 326 therefore opens onto the space 28 delimited by two adjacent insulating blocks.

[0170] The first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 has a C-hook shape whose free end is inserted into the groove 326. For this purpose, the cover plate 24 is placed on the insulating block 20 so that the free end of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake is opposite the groove 326, then the strake is slid onto the insulating block to insert the free end of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake into the groove 326, as shown in the successive steps of [Fig.8].

[0171] According to a fifth variant shown in [Fig.9], the attachment element 40 is received in the space 28 separating two adjacent insulating blocks 20.

[0172] In this fifth variant, the shape of the attachment element 40 is a little different. As previously, the first longitudinal edge 14A forming the attachment element 40 comprises a longitudinal falling wall 141 which extends from the flat portion 12 of the strake 11 and is folded at a right angle relative to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11, in the direction of the insulating barrier 20. This falling wall 141 is extended by a attachment wall 142 which extends obliquely from the falling wall 141, in the direction of the interior of the tank.

[0173] A complementary hooking element 90 is further provided which extends into the space 28 separating the two adjacent insulating blocks 20. This complementary hooking element 90 is in the form of a profiled metal clip, a base 91 of which is housed in a slot 28A which extends from the space 28 separating the two insulating blocks, along a lower face 24A of the cover plate 24 oriented towards the load-bearing wall 1, 2. From this base 91, the clip comprises a part whose transverse section has a hook shape 92 comprising a strip rising at right angles to the base 91, against the longitudinal lateral face of the cover plate 24, towards the inside of the tank and a complementary hooking strip which extends obliquely towards the outside of the tank, parallel to the hooking wall 142 of the hooking element 40. The hooking element cooperates in a retaining manner with the hook 92 to block the strake in the thickness direction of the tank wall.

[0174] Whatever the variant considered, along its second longitudinal edge 14B, the secondary strake 11 comprises a rim 43 (figures 5, 6, 7 and 9) extending in projection from the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11, towards the inside of the tank, that is to say opposite the falling wall 41 of the attachment element 40 of the first longitudinal edge 14A.

[0175] The edge 43 covers a part 12A of the flat portion 12 of an adjacent secondary strake 11.

[0176] Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9 show the edge 43 of the second longitudinal edge 14B of the adjacent secondary strake 11 partially covering the part 12A of the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11 of which the first longitudinal edge 14A is described above and shown.

[0177] The portion 12A of the secondary strake 11 covered by the edge 43 formed by the second longitudinal edge 14B of the adjacent secondary strake 11 extends along the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake 11, immediately close to the falling wall 4L.

[0178] The edge 43 is arranged such that the flat portion 12 of the adjacent secondary strake 11 extends in the same plane as the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11.

[0179] The rim 43 is welded continuously and tightly to the part 12A of the covered flat portion 12. The rim 43 is for example welded with a lap.

[0180] The different solutions for mounting and connecting the secondary strakes 11 without raised edges between them are described above in the case of the formation of a secondary waterproof membrane. Of course, the same solutions can be used to assemble primary strakes 11' without raised edges to form a primary waterproof membrane 10'.

[0181] In the embodiments described here, the width of the strakes 11, 11'; 411 of the waterproof membrane 10, 10' is equal to the width of the insulating blocks 22, 22' of the corresponding insulating barrier 20, 20'. Alternatively, the width of the strakes of the waterproof membrane may be different, for example equal to half the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier.

[0182] In particular, it is possible to envisage a tank comprising a sealed membrane secondary membrane similar to that of the first embodiment described above and a primary membrane similar to the primary membrane described in the third embodiment, having raised edges and without longitudinal undulations. In this case, the secondary membrane is preferably made of an alloy of iron and manganese whose coefficient of expansion is less than or equal to 9.106 K 1 and the primary membrane is preferably made of an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically less than or equal to 2.106 K1, for example in the alloy called "Invar".

[0183] The tank wall may comprise only one waterproof membrane and one insulating barrier.

[0184] With reference to [Fig. 15], 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 sealed barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealed barrier arranged between the primary sealed barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary sealed barrier and the secondary sealed barrier and between the secondary sealed barrier and the double hull 72.

[0185] In a manner known per se, loading / unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal or to an LNG bunkering vessel to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

[0186] [Fig. 15] shows an example of a marine 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.

[0187] To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of liquefied gas, we use pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps equipping the shore installation 77 and / or pumps equipping the loading and unloading station 75.

[0188] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is quite obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0189] The invention applies to ship tanks 71 and also to land-based tanks and port structures.

[0190] 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.

[0191] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

Claims

1. A sealed and thermally insulating tank, integrated in a supporting structure (4) comprising a first supporting wall (1) and a second supporting wall (2) joining the first supporting wall (1) at an edge (3) of the supporting structure (4), the tank comprising a first tank wall fixed to the first supporting wall (1) and a second tank wall fixed to the second supporting wall (2), in which at least one of the first and second tank walls comprises at least one sealed membrane (10, 10') and an insulating barrier (20, 20') arranged between the sealed membrane (10, 10') and the corresponding supporting wall (1, 2), in which the sealed membrane (10, 10') comprises a plurality of strakes (11, 11'; 411), a strake comprising a flat portion (12, 12'; 412) resting on an internal surface (21, 21') of the insulating barrier (20, 20') and at least one longitudinal corrugation (13, 13';413) projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion (12) of the strake (11, 11'; 411), said or each longitudinal corrugation (13, 13'; 413) being spaced from the longitudinal edges (14A, 14B, 14A', 14B'; 414A, 414B) of the strake (11, 11'; 411), the strakes (11, 11'; 411) being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealed manner at said longitudinal edges (14A, 14B, 14A', 14B'; 414A, 414B), the tank wall comprising a metal corner beam (30; 330; 430) arranged parallel to the edge (3) of the supporting structure and anchored to the first and second supporting walls, the corner beam (30; 330; 430) comprising a first lateral wing (31, 31'; 331; 431, 431') parallel to the first supporting wall (1) and a second lateral wing (32; 332; 432, 432') parallel to the second supporting wall (2), the two lateral wings (31, 32; 331, 332; 431, 432) being connected to each other at a sealed connection zone (33;333; 433), at least one of the first and second lateral wings (31, 32, 31'; 331; 332; 431; 432, 431', 432') of the corner beam (30; 330; 430) comprising a receiving strip (34, 34'; 334; 434; 434') which extends from the connection zone, away from the connection zone (33; 333; 433), in which a distal portion (34A, 34A'; 334A; 434A, 434A') of the receiving strip is welded to an end portion (15, 15') of the; strakes (11, 11'), the receiving strip (34, 34'; 334; 434; 434') of said at least one of the lateral wings (31, 32, 31'; 331; 332; 431; 432, 431', 432') having corrugated portions (35, 35'; 335; 435) arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations (13, 13'; 413, 413') of the strakes (11, 11'; 411, 411') to terminate the longitudinal corrugations (13, 13'; 413, 413') at a distance from the connecting zone (33; 333; 433).

2. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the corrugated portions (35, 35'; 435) is made in one piece with said receiving strip (34, 34'; 334; 434; 434').

3. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 2, in which at least one of the corrugated parts (35, 35'; 435) is produced by stamping.

4. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which at least one of the corrugated parts (335) comprises a piece attached to a flat part (334C) of the receiving strip (334) of the side wing (331, 332).

5. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the corrugated part (35, 35'; 335; 435) has a shape adapted to cover the longitudinal end of a longitudinal corrugation (13, 13'; 313; 413) and to extend it on the lateral wing (31, 31'; 331; 431) in the direction of the connection zone (33; 333; 433).

6. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the insulating barrier (20, 20') comprises insulating blocks (22, 22') and each strake (11, 11') comprises a longitudinal attachment element (40) adapted to cooperate in a retained manner with the insulating blocks (22, 22') of the insulating barrier (20, 20') to retain the strake (11, 11') in the direction of the thickness of the tank wall, while allowing movement of the strake along a longitudinal direction (D) of the strake.

7. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 6, wherein the attachment element (40) extends along a first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A') of the strake (11, 11') and comprises a portion of the first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A') of the strake (11, 11') folded towards the insulating barrier (20, 20') and extending in projection from the flat portion (12, 12') of the strake (11, 11').

8. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of the claims 6 and 7, in which the strake (11, 11') comprises, along its second longitudinal edge (14B, 14B'), a rim (43) extending projecting from the flat portion (12, 12') of the strake, opposite the attachment element (40) of the first longitudinal edge 1(4A, 14A'), the rim (43) covering a part (12A) of the flat portion (12, 12') of an adjacent strake (11, 11'), the covered part (12A) extending along the first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A') of the adjacent strake.

9. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 6 to 8, in which the attachment element (40) is received in a groove (26; 126; 226) formed in the insulating barrier (20, 20') and opening onto said internal surface (21, 21').

10. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 9, in which the hooking element (40) cooperates in a retaining manner with a surface of a wall of the groove (226) or with a retaining element (60) fitted in the groove (126).

11. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 6 to 8, in which a part of the attachment element (40) is received in a groove (326) formed in a lateral face of the insulating blocks (22, 22') forming the insulating barrier (20, 20').

12. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 6 to 8, in which the attachment element (40) is received in a space (28) separating two adjacent insulating blocks.

13. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 12, in which the attachment element (40) cooperates in a retaining manner with a complementary attachment element (90) which extends into the space (28) separating the two adjacent insulating blocks (22, 22').

14. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which each strake (11, 11'; 411) comprises one or two longitudinal corrugations (13, 13'; 413).

15. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 14, in which the sealed membrane (10) constitutes a secondary sealed membrane and is surmounted by a primary insulating barrier (20') and a primary sealed membrane (10').

16. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 15, in which the primary sealed membrane (10') comprises a plurality of primary strakes (11'), a primary strake (11') comprising a flat portion (12') resting on an internal surface (21') of the primary insulating barrier (20') and at least one longitudinal corrugation (13') primary projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion (12') of the primary strake (11'), said or each primary longitudinal corrugation (13') being spaced from the longitudinal edges (14A', 14B') of the primary strake (11'), the primary strakes being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealed manner at said longitudinal edges, the metal corner beam (30) further comprises a first primary lateral wing (31') parallel to the first load-bearing wall (1) and a second primary lateral wing (32') parallel to the second load-bearing wall (2), the two primary lateral wings being connected to each other at a primary sealed connection zone (33), at least one of the first and second primary lateral wings of the corner beam (30) having a receiving strip (34, 34') which extends from the connection zone (33) primary waterproof connection (33), moving away from the primary waterproof connection area,in which a distal portion (34A') of the receiving strip (34') of the primary lateral wings (31', 32') of the corner beam (30) is welded to an end portion (15') of the primary strakes (11') of the primary waterproof membrane (10'), the receiving strip (34') of the primary lateral wings having corrugated parts (35') arranged in alignment with the primary longitudinal corrugations (13') of the primary strakes to terminate the primary longitudinal corrugations at a distance from the primary waterproof connection zone (33).,

17. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of the preceding claims, in which the corner beam (30; 330; 430) comprises at least two support wings (37A, 37B, 37C, 37D; 337A, 337B), connected to each of the first and second load-bearing walls, said support wings being arranged substantially in the extension of the lateral wings of the corner beam.

18. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claims 16 and 17 taken in combination, wherein the corner beam (30) further comprises primary lateral wings (31') and primary support wings (37A, 37D) connected to each of the first and second load-bearing walls and arranged substantially in line with the primary lateral wings (31') of the corner beam.

19. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 15, in which the sealed membrane (10') constitutes a primary sealed membrane and the insulating barrier (20') constitutes a primary insulating barrier, and the tank wall comprises a barrier secondary insulating barrier (20) and a secondary waterproof membrane (10) arranged between the primary insulating barrier and the supporting structure.

20. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of the preceding claims, in which the strakes (11, 11'; 411, 411') are made from an iron and manganese alloy whose coefficient of expansion is less than or equal to 9.10-6 Kl.

21. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of the preceding claims, in which the width of the strakes (11, 11'; 411) of the sealed membrane (10, 10') is equal to the width of the insulating blocks (22, 22') of the corresponding insulating barrier or equal to half the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier.

22. A vessel (70) for transporting a fluid, the vessel comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) according to any one of claims 1 to 21 disposed in the double hull (72).

23. A transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising a vessel (70) according to claim 22, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the vessel tank (71) to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) and a pump for driving a fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the vessel tank.

24. A method of loading or unloading a vessel (70) according to claim 22, wherein a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) to or from the vessel's tank (71).

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