Liquefied gas storage facility with a tensioned secondary membrane

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquefied gas storage facility comprising a supporting structure and a tank, the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall comprising: - a first secondary fixing support, made of metal, positioned in a corner area at the intersection between two edges of the loading / unloading opening; - a first primary anchoring device which is fixed to the first secondary fixing support; and - a first primary corner insulating block (62) which comprises a main portion (63) arranged along the first transverse edge and a projection (64) which projects from the main portion (63) beyond the first longitudinal edge, vertically of the first secondary fixing support; said projection (64) comprising a bearing area (64);the first primary anchoring device (29) comprising a support element (66) which is supported, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall against the support zone (67) of a first primary edge insulating block (51) and against the support zone (65) of the first primary corner insulating block (62). Figure for the abstract: 12;

Description

Title of the invention: Installation for storing liquefied gas with a tensioned secondary membrane Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of liquefied gas storage installations comprising a sealed and thermally insulating tank with a sealed membrane.

[0002] In particular, the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquefied gas 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. 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.

[0003] The storage facility may be installed on land or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the facility may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or for receiving liquefied gas used as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure. Technological background

[0004] Document WO2023 / 001678 describes a liquefied gas storage facility comprising a tank integrated into the supporting structure of a ship. The walls of the tank have a multi-layer structure comprising, in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside, a secondary thermally insulating barrier retained on the supporting structure, a secondary sealing membrane fixed to the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier fixed to the secondary thermally insulating barrier through the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane which is fixed to the primary thermally insulating barrier and which is intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas stored inside the tank. The secondary sealing membrane comprises a plurality of parallel strakes.Each strake comprises a flat central portion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the tank and two raised edges arranged on either side of the flat central portion and projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the central portion. Such a secondary waterproofing membrane, commonly referred to as a "tensioned membrane", does not allow the absorption of tensile and compressive forces in the longitudinal direction unlike a corrugated membrane.

[0005] The ceiling wall of the tank is interrupted at a loading / unloading opening through which pipes intended for loading and / or unloading the liquefied gas pass. The secondary sealing membrane is stopped and is directly connected to the supporting structure by means of secondary connecting angles in order to take up the tensile and compressive forces resulting in particular from the thermal contraction of the secondary sealing membrane and the deformation of the ship's hull linked to the bending of the ship's beam. In order to relieve the secondary connecting angles, the secondary thermally insulating barrier has, along the front transverse edge, a particular arrangement comprising in particular a plurality of secondary metal fixing supports to which secondary stop beams are fixed against which the corresponding secondary connecting angle rests.Primary insulating blocks are arranged along the transverse and longitudinal edges of the loading / unloading opening. These primary insulating blocks are fixed by means of primary anchoring devices which are fixed to the secondary thermally insulating barrier and which pass tightly through the secondary waterproofing membrane. Summary of the invention

[0006] An idea underlying the invention is to provide a liquefied gas storage facility of the aforementioned type in which the primary insulating blocks in the corner areas at the intersections between the longitudinal and transverse edges of the loading / unloading opening are fixed in a simple manner.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a liquefied gas storage facility comprising a supporting structure and a sealed and thermally insulating tank supported by the supporting structure, the supporting structure comprising an upper supporting wall and the tank comprising a ceiling wall which is fixed to the upper supporting wall, said ceiling wall comprising, in a thickness direction, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier fixed to the upper supporting wall, a secondary sealing membrane resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier resting against the secondary sealing membrane, and a primary sealing membrane resting against the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas,said ceiling wall being interrupted locally so as to delimit a loading / unloading opening intended to be crossed by loading / unloading pipes, said loading / unloading opening being defined by a first and a second transverse edges, parallel to a transverse direction and, a first and a second longitudinal edge parallel to a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction; the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall comprising: - a first secondary fixing support, made of metal, positioned in a corner zone at the intersection between the first longitudinal edge and the first transverse edge; And - secondary edge insulating blocks which are arranged along the first longitudinal edge and the first transverse edge; the ceiling wall comprising a first primary anchoring device which is attached to the first secondary attachment bracket; the primary thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall comprising: - a first primary edge insulating block which is arranged along the first longitudinal edge and which comprises a support zone; and - a first primary corner insulating block which comprises a main portion arranged along the first transverse edge and a projection which projects from the main portion beyond the first longitudinal edge, vertically above the first secondary fixing support; said projection comprising a support zone opposite the first primary edge insulating block; the first primary anchoring device comprising a support element which bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall, against the support zone of the first primary edge insulating block and against the support zone of the first primary corner insulating block.

[0008] Thus, the first primary anchoring device makes it possible to fix both a primary edge insulating block arranged along the first longitudinal edge and a primary corner insulating block arranged along the transverse edge, which makes it possible to limit the number of primary anchoring devices necessary for fixing the primary thermally insulating barrier and, consequently, the number of sealed penetrations of the secondary waterproofing membrane.

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

[0010] According to one embodiment, the support zone of the first primary edge insulating block is formed by a cleat.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the primary thermally insulating barrier comprises at least one primary insulating panel which adjoins the first primary edge insulating block and which comprises a support zone, against which the support element bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall. This makes it possible to further limit the number of primary anchoring devices necessary for fixing the primary thermally insulating barrier.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the first primary anchoring device comprises a threaded stud which passes in a sealed manner through an orifice provided in the secondary sealing membrane and onto which the support element is fitted and a nut which is screwed onto the threaded stud so as to hold the support element against the support zones of the first primary edge insulating block and the first primary corner insulating block.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first primary corner insulating block is formed by a box inside which an insulating lining is placed.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the support zone of the advancement is formed by a cleat.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the first secondary fixing support comprises a secondary foot which is anchored to the upper load-bearing wall and a secondary cap which is welded to the secondary foot and which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction, in a plane parallel to the upper load-bearing wall.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the secondary foot comprises two branches connected to each other by a central core, the branches extending in planes parallel to the transverse direction.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the first secondary fixing support comprises a plate which is fixed to the secondary cap by fixing members.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the fixing members are adjustable in order to allow the relative movement of the plate with respect to the secondary cap, according to the direction of thickness of the ceiling wall.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the threaded stud is fixed to the plate.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the secondary thermally insulating barrier comprises a secondary stop beam which extends along the first transverse edge and rests at least against the secondary cap of the first secondary fixing support and against one of the secondary edge insulating blocks arranged along the first transverse edge, said secondary stop beam being blocked in the thickness direction of the ceiling wall, between the plate and the secondary cap.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment, the plate provides a dual functionality, namely: blocking the secondary stop beam in the thickness direction of the ceiling wall and ensuring the fixing of the first primary anchoring device to the first secondary fixing support, which makes it possible to further simplify the structure of the ceiling wall in the corner area of ​​the loading / unloading opening.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the secondary stop beam has one end equipped with a recess in which the plate is received so that said plate is flush with an internal surface of the secondary stop beam. This ensures the flatness of the support surface against which the first flange of the secondary connecting angle and the secondary waterproofing membrane are positioned.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first secondary fixing support comprises a stop device which is configured to block the secondary stop beam in translation in the longitudinal direction.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the stop device comprises a plate which is fixed to the secondary cap and comprises a threaded orifice whose axis is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tank and which is crossed by a pressure screw, said pressure screw being intended to come to bear against the secondary stop beam by means of a support angle so as to press the secondary stop beam against one end of a branch of the first secondary fixing support.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the secondary waterproofing membrane is connected in a sealed manner to the upper load-bearing wall, along the first transverse edge, by means of a secondary connection angle comprising a first wing which extends in a horizontal plane, bearing against the secondary stop beam, and a second wing which extends in a vertical plane and is welded to an anchoring plate secured to the upper load-bearing wall.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the secondary thermally insulating barrier comprises a plurality of secondary fixing supports spaced along the first transverse edge, the secondary insulating edge blocks being interposed, along the transverse edge, between two adjacent secondary fixing supports.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the primary thermally insulating barrier comprises a plurality of primary edge insulating blocks arranged along the first transverse edge and which are each equipped at their end with a bearing zone, the ceiling wall comprising a plurality of primary anchoring devices which are each fixed to one of the secondary fixing supports, said primary anchoring devices comprising a bearing element which is arranged between two adjacent primary edge insulating blocks and bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall, against one of the bearing zones of the two adjacent primary edge insulating blocks.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the secondary thermally insulating barrier comprises: - a second secondary fixing bracket, made of metal, positioned in a corner area at the intersection between the second longitudinal edge and the first transverse edge; and - secondary edge insulation blocks which are arranged along the second longitudinal edge; the ceiling wall comprising a second primary anchoring device which is attached to the second secondary attachment bracket; the primary thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall comprising: - a second primary edge insulating block which is arranged along the second longitudinal edge; and - a second primary corner insulating block which comprises a main portion arranged along the first transverse edge and a projection which projects from the main portion beyond the first longitudinal edge, vertically above the second secondary fixing support; said projection comprising a support zone opposite the second primary edge insulating block; the second primary anchoring device comprising a support element which bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall, against the support zone of the second primary edge insulating block and against the support zone of the second primary corner insulating block.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the secondary thermally insulating barrier comprises: - a third and a fourth secondary fixing brackets, made of metal, positioned in a corner area respectively at the intersection between the first longitudinal edge and the second transverse edge and between the second longitudinal edge and the second transverse edge; the ceiling wall comprising a third and a fourth primary anchoring devices which are respectively fixed to the third and fourth secondary fixing supports; the primary thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall comprising: - a third and a fourth primary edge insulating block which are respectively arranged along the first and second longitudinal edges; and - a third and a fourth primary corner insulating block which comprises a main portion arranged along the second transverse edge and a projection which projects from the main portion; the advancement of the third primary corner insulating block projecting beyond the first longitudinal edge and comprising a support zone opposite the third primary edge insulating block; the third primary anchoring device comprising a support element which is supported, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall, against the support zone of the third primary edge insulating block and against the support zone of the third primary corner insulating block; the advancement of the fourth primary corner insulating block projecting beyond the second longitudinal edge and comprising a support zone opposite the fourth primary edge insulation block; the fourth primary anchoring device comprising a support element which bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall, against the support zone of the fourth primary edge insulating block and against the support zone of the fourth primary corner insulating block.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the first transverse edge is at the front or at the rear of the loading / unloading opening.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the secondary edge insulating blocks which are arranged along the first and second longitudinal edges comprise at least one upper batten at each of their ends, the ceiling wall comprising second primary anchoring devices which comprise a lower plate and an upper plate fixed to each other by adjustable fixing members and sandwiching the upper batten of two adjacent secondary edge insulating blocks.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the primary edge insulating blocks comprise at least one cleat at each of their ends, the second primary anchoring devices comprising a threaded stud passing in a sealed manner through the secondary sealing membrane and a support element which is mounted on the threaded stud and which bears against the cleats of two adjacent primary edge insulating blocks.

[0033] An installation according to one of the aforementioned embodiments may be a land-based storage installation, for example for storing LNG or may 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 may be intended to receive liquefied natural gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a ship for transporting a fluid which comprises an installation of the aforementioned type.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the ship comprises a double hull which forms the supporting structure.

[0036] 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 vessel's tank 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 vessel's tank.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method for 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 ship's tank. Brief description of the figures

[0038] 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.

[0039] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a ship having a storage facility.

[0040] [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view from below of a ceiling wall according to a first embodiment, in an area close to a loading / unloading opening interrupting the ceiling wall of the tank, said view corresponding to detail II of [Fig.l].

[0041] [Fig. 3] is a longitudinal sectional view of the ceiling wall, close to the rear cofferdam wall.

[0042] [Fig.4] is a partial perspective view of the thermally insulating barrier secondary, along the rear transverse edge of the loading / unloading opening.

[0043] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a secondary mounting bracket.

[0044] [Fig.6] is a partial cross-sectional view of the thermally insulating barrier secondary, along the rear transverse edge of the loading / unloading opening.

[0045] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of a beam intended to rest against the secondary mounting brackets.

[0046] [Fig.8] is a perspective view illustrating the thermally insulating barrier secondary and the primary thermally insulating barrier along a longitudinal edge of the loading / unloading opening.

[0047] [Fig.9] a partial perspective view of the thermally insulating barrier secondary in a corner area at the intersection between a transverse edge and a longitudinal edge of the loading / unloading opening.

[0048] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of a corner primary insulating block intended for be positioned in a corner area at the intersection between a transverse edge and a longitudinal edge of the loading / unloading opening.

[0049] [Fig. 11] is a partial view from below of the thermally insulating barrier primary of a corner area at the intersection between a transverse edge and a longitudinal edge of the loading / unloading opening, the support element of the primary anchoring device not being shown.

[0050] [Fig. 12] is a partial bottom view similar to that of [Fig. 11] in which the support element of the primary anchoring device is represented.

[0051] [Fig. 13] is a schematic cutaway representation of a LNG carrier tank and a loading / unloading terminal for this tank. Description of the embodiments

[0052] By convention, the terms "external" and "internal" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another, with reference to the exterior and interior of the tank. Furthermore, in the figures, the arrows L and T correspond respectively to the longitudinal and transverse directions of the tank, perpendicular to each other. By extension, in the embodiments shown, the arrows L and T also correspond to the longitudinal and transverse directions of the ship since, in these embodiments, the tanks have the same orientation as the ship.

[0053] [Fig. 1] shows a ship 70, for example a LNG carrier, for the storage and transport of liquefied gas. The ship 70 comprises a storage facility 1 comprising several tanks 71 arranged in the inner hull of the ship. To do this, the inner hull has a plurality of polyhedral-shaped compartments which are defined by a plurality of load-bearing walls and which are each intended to form a load-bearing structure receiving one of the tanks 71 of the ship 1. The inner hull comprises cofferdam load-bearing walls which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the ship and which delimit cofferdam spaces segmenting the inner hull into several compartments.

[0054] Each tank 71 is polyhedral in shape and comprises a plurality of tank walls assembled together and fixed against the load-bearing walls, and in particular a ceiling wall 4, a rear cofferdam wall 82 and a front cofferdam wall 83. The front 82 and rear 83 cofferdam walls are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L of the ship 70 and are fixed against one and the other of the two load-bearing cofferdam walls.

[0055] In order to load the liquefied gas into the tank and unload it, a loading / unloading opening, not shown in [Fig.l], is provided in the ceiling wall 4 and through which pipes for loading and / or unloading the liquefied gas pass. The loading / unloading opening is provided in the ceiling wall 4 near the rear cofferdam wall 82 (zone II of [Fig.l]).

[0056] The upper load-bearing wall of the load-bearing structure 2 is also provided with openings allowing the pipes to pass through the load-bearing structure 2. The loading / unloading opening serves as a penetration point for various liquefied natural gas handling equipment, including one or more of the following: a filling line, an emergency pumping line, discharge lines loading linked to unloading pumps, a spray line, a feed line linked to a spray pump, etc. According to one embodiment, a loading / unloading tower, not shown, passes through the loading / unloading opening. The loading tower has vertical masts which are fixed to each other by crosspieces. The vertical masts are hollow and thus each define a loading line, a loading line or an emergency shaft allowing the descent of an emergency shaft.

[0057] [Fig.2] shows a perspective view of a ceiling wall 4 from inside the tank in an area close to the loading / unloading opening 14. The loading / unloading opening 14 has a rectangular shape and is defined by two longitudinal edges 5, parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the tank and two transverse edges 6, parallel to the transverse direction.

[0058] In relation to [Fig. 3], the multi-layer structure of the ceiling wall 4 is observed. The ceiling wall 4 comprises successively, in the thickness direction, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 retained on the upper load-bearing wall 8, a secondary sealing membrane 9 bearing against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 7, a primary thermally insulating barrier 10 bearing against the secondary sealing membrane 9 and a primary sealing membrane 11 bearing against the primary thermally insulating barrier 10 and intended to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank.

[0059] The secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 comprises a plurality of secondary insulating panels 12 which are anchored to the upper load-bearing wall 8 by means of secondary anchoring devices, not shown in [Fig. 3]. The secondary insulating panels 12 have a generally parallelepiped shape and are, for example, arranged in parallel rows, in the longitudinal direction L and in the transverse direction T.

[0060] The secondary waterproofing membrane 9 of the ceiling wall 4 comprises a continuous layer of metal strakes, with raised edges. Each strake extends in the longitudinal direction L and comprises a flat central portion resting on the secondary insulating panels 12. Each strake also comprises two raised edges arranged on either side of the flat central portion and projecting towards the inside of the tank relative to the central portion. The strakes are welded by their raised edges to parallel welding supports which are fixed in grooves formed in the internal surface of the secondary insulating panels 12, that is to say the one which is in contact with the secondary waterproofing membrane 9. The strakes are, for example, made of Invar®: that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 1.106 and 2.106 K 1 or in an alloy of iron and manganese whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 7.106 and 9.106 K1.

[0061] The primary thermally insulating barrier 10 comprises a plurality of primary insulating panels 13 which are anchored to the secondary insulating panels 12 by means of primary anchoring devices, also not shown in [Fig. 3]. The primary insulating panels 13 have a generally parallelepiped shape. The primary insulating panels 13 may in particular be positioned offset from the secondary insulating panels 12 in the longitudinal direction L, and optionally also in the transverse direction T.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the secondary insulating panels 12 and the primary insulating panels 13 comprise a base plate, a cover plate and one or more layers of insulating polymer foam which are sandwiched between the base plate and the cover plate and are bonded to them. The insulating polymer foam may in particular be a polyurethane-based foam, optionally reinforced with fibers, in particular glass fibers.

[0063] The primary waterproofing membrane 11 comprises a plurality of corrugated metal plates juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T, and welded to each other along their edges. The primary waterproofing membrane 11 comprises corrugations extending parallel to the longitudinal direction L and corrugations extending parallel to the transverse direction T.

[0064] In order to delimit the loading / unloading opening 14, the ceiling wall 4 is interrupted locally. Thus, the sealing membranes, primary 11 and secondary 9, as well as the thermally insulating barriers, primary 10 and secondary 7, are interrupted all around the loading / unloading opening 14.

[0065] Returning to [Fig. 2], a cover 15 is seen arranged in the loading / unloading opening 14. The cover 15 comprises a metal sealing wall 16 and a thermal insulation structure 17 located between the metal sealing wall 16 and the upper load-bearing wall 8. The cover 15 is fixed to the upper load-bearing wall 8. The metal sealing wall 16 provides continuity of the seal with the primary sealing membrane 11 of the ceiling wall 4 while the thermal insulation structure 17 provides continuity of the insulation.

[0066] The thermal insulation structure 17 may comprise one or more cover insulating blocks, made for example in the form of boxes comprising a bottom plate, a cover plate and load-bearing spacers extending, in the thickness direction, between the bottom plate and the cover plate and delimiting a plurality of compartments filled with an insulating filling, such as perlite, glass wool or rock wool. The cover insulating block(s) comprise holes (not shown) allowing the passage of the loading / unloading lines. loading.

[0067] The metal sealing wall 16 of the cover 14 comprises, for example, a plurality of metal plates welded to each other. The metal sealing wall 16 further comprises a plurality of cover orifices (not shown) intended to be passed through by the loading / unloading pipes. A metal connecting strip 18 makes it possible to connect in a sealed manner the metal sealing wall 16 of the cover 14 and the primary sealing membrane 11 of the ceiling wall 4, as visible in [Fig. 2].

[0068] If at the loading / unloading opening 14, the primary sealing membrane 11 is connected to the metal sealing wall 16 of the cover 14, the secondary sealing membrane 9 is interrupted at the longitudinal 5 and transverse 6 edges of the loading / unloading opening 14 and is directly connected in a sealed manner to the upper load-bearing wall 8 in order to seal the separation between the secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 and the cover 14. This connection is made using a secondary connecting angle 19, notably visible in [Fig. 3]. The secondary connecting angle 19 comprises a first wing 20 and a second wing 21 connected to the first wing 20.The first wing 20 extends in a horizontal plane and is connected to the secondary waterproofing membrane 9 while the second wing 21 extends in a vertical plane and is welded to an anchoring plate 22 secured to the upper load-bearing wall 8. Thus, some of the strakes of the secondary waterproofing membrane 9 are interrupted by the loading / unloading opening 14 and are connected to the upper load-bearing wall 8.

[0069] At this connection to the upper load-bearing wall 8, the secondary sealing membrane 9 is capable of transmitting to the secondary connection angle 19 tensile forces linked to the work of the secondary sealing membrane 9, in particular when the tank is cooled. Also, in order to relieve the secondary connection angle 19 and its welding with the secondary sealing membrane 9, the secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 has a particular arrangement along the transverse edges 6 of the loading / unloading opening 14.

[0070] The particular arrangement of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 7, along one of said transverse edges 6, is partially shown in [Fig. 4]. The secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 comprises a plurality of secondary fixing supports 23 which are regularly arranged along said transverse edge 6 of the loading / unloading opening 14, at a distance from each other in the transverse direction T, and welded to the upper load-bearing wall 8.

[0071] One of said secondary fixing supports 23 is shown in [Fig.5]. It comprises a secondary cap 24 which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction, in a plane parallel to the ceiling wall 4. The secondary cap 24 is welded to a secondary foot 25 which is anchored to the upper load-bearing wall 8, for example by welding. The secondary foot 25 comprises two branches 26, 27 connected to each other by a central core 28. The two branches 26, 27 are welded to the two ends of the secondary cap 24 and extend, parallel to each other, in planes parallel to the transverse direction and to the thickness direction of the ceiling wall 4. The central core 28 extends in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction and to the thickness direction of the ceiling wall 4. The central core 28 is welded to the secondary cap 24 and to the two branches 26, 27. In the embodiment shown, the central core 28 has a U shape. The spacing in the longitudinal direction L between the two branches 26, 27 defines a seat length and makes it possible to oppose the tilting and bending of the secondary connecting angle 19 in this direction.

[0072] The secondary fixing support 23 carries a primary anchoring device 25 intended to ensure the anchoring of the primary thermally insulating barrier 10. The primary anchoring device 29 is fixed to a plate 30 which is, itself, fixed to the secondary cap 24 by fixing members 31, such as screws. The longitudinal direction of the plate 30 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tank.

[0073] Furthermore, a threaded stud 32 is fixed to said plate 30 and develops in the thickness direction towards the inside of the tank. The threaded stud 32 is intended to pass in a sealed manner through an orifice provided in the secondary sealing membrane 9. The primary anchoring device 29 also comprises a support element 33 which is intended to come into contact with support zones of primary insulating edge blocks 51 of the primary thermally insulating barrier 10, in particular shown in [Fig. 3], which are arranged along the transverse edges 6 of the loading / unloading opening 14. In the embodiment shown, the support zones of the primary insulating edge blocks 51 are, for example, formed by cleats which are fixed to the ends of said primary insulating edge blocks 51.

[0074] Furthermore, the primary anchoring device 29 also comprises a nut 34, notably visible in [Fig. 5], which cooperates with the thread of the threaded stud 32 so as to ensure the fixing of the support element 33 on the threaded stud 32 as well as at least one Belleville washer 35 which is mounted on the threaded stud 32 between the nut 34 and the support element 33. The primary anchoring device 25 further comprises a collar 36 which is positioned around the threaded stud 32 and is intended to be welded in a sealed manner to the secondary sealing membrane 9 all around the orifice crossed by the threaded stud 32.

[0075] Returning to [Fig. 4], it can be seen that the secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 also comprises, along the transverse edges 6, secondary insulating edge blocks 37. Each secondary insulating edge block 37 is interposed between two neighboring secondary fixing supports 23. The secondary insulating edge blocks 37 are advantageously glued to the upper load-bearing wall 8, for example by means of mastic. The secondary insulating edge blocks 37 are, for example, formed by a wooden box inside which is placed an insulating filling, such as perlite, glass wool or rock wool for example.

[0076] The secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 further comprises secondary stop beams 38 against which the first wing 20 of the secondary connecting angle 19 is fixed. The secondary stop beams 38 are, for example, made of wood. The secondary stop beams 38 also participate in retaining the secondary insulating edge blocks 37 against the upper load-bearing wall 8. The secondary stop beams 38 are thus interposed, in the thickness direction, between the secondary insulating edge blocks 37 and the first wing 20 of the secondary connecting angle 19.

[0077] The secondary stop beams 38 are each fixed astride two secondary fixing supports 23. In the embodiment shown, the secondary stop beams 38 also rest, in their middle part, on a secondary fixing support 23. To ensure the fixing of the secondary stop beams 38, the ends of the secondary stop beams 38 are sandwiched between the plate 30 and the secondary cap 24. The fixing members 31 being adjustable, the ends of the secondary stop beams 38 are thus blocked, in the thickness direction of the ceiling wall, between the plate 30 and the secondary cap 24.

[0078] As illustrated in [Fig.7], the secondary stop beams 38 have recesses 39 in which the plates 30 are received so that said plates 30 are substantially flush with the internal surface of the secondary stop beam 38. This ensures the flatness of the support surface against which the first wing 20 of the secondary connecting angle 19 and the secondary sealing membrane 9 are positioned.

[0079] Advantageously, the secondary stop beams 38 also incorporate, in prefabrication, one or more metal reinforcements 40, making it possible to increase their rigidity. The metal reinforcements 40 are, for example, metal blades which are oriented parallel to the length of said secondary stop beams 38, that is to say in the transverse direction of the tank. The metal reinforcements 40 can be fixed to the secondary stop beam 38 by any means, and in particular by fixing screws, by gluing or by riveting.

[0080] According to an advantageous embodiment, sausages or strips of mastic, not illustrated, are positioned between, on the one hand, the secondary stop beams 38 and, on the other hand, the secondary edge insulating blocks 37 and / or the secondary caps 24 of the secondary fixing supports 23. This makes it possible to adjust the position of the secondary stop beams 38 according to the thickness direction of the ceiling wall 4.

[0081] As illustrated in [Fig.7], the secondary stop beams 38 also incorporate support angles 41, L-shaped and made of metal, which serve as support for stop devices 42, visible in particular in FIGS. 4 to 6, and described below. The support angles 41 being harder than the secondary stop beam 38, they make it possible to avoid punching of the secondary stop beams 38 in their contact zones with the stop devices 42. The secondary stop beams 38 also have cutouts 43 which make it possible to receive the stop devices 42 when the secondary stop beams 38 are placed against the secondary fixing supports 23. The support angles 41 each have a first tab 44 which is received against the external face of the secondary stop beam 38 and a second tab 45 which is received against an edge of one of the aforementioned cutouts 43.The support angles 41 can be fixed to the secondary stop beams 38 by any means and in particular by fixing screws, by gluing or by riveting.

[0082] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig. 6], each secondary stop beam 38 is locked in translation, in the longitudinal direction, on the secondary fixing supports 23 with which it cooperates. To do this, each secondary fixing support 23 comprises a stop device 42 which is fixed on the secondary cap 24. The stop device 42 comprises a plate 43 fixed, by welding, perpendicular to the secondary cap 24. In the embodiment shown, in order to reinforce the rigidity of the stop device 42, a reinforcement in the form of a gusset 46 is welded between the plate 43 and the secondary cap 24. The plate 43 comprises two threaded orifices whose axes are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the tank and which are each crossed by a pressure screw 44.Each pressure screw 44 is intended to come to bear against one of the support angles 41, which has the effect of pressing the corresponding secondary stop beam 38 against one end 45 of a branch 27, which makes it possible to block it in translation in the longitudinal direction.

[0083] Thus, the secondary stop beams 38 are rigidly supported by the secondary fixing supports 23, both in the longitudinal direction L and in the thickness direction of the ceiling wall 4, which makes it possible to take up the tensile or compressive forces which may be exerted by the secondary waterproofing membrane 9 in operation.

[0084] As illustrated in [Fig.4], the secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 comprises cover plates 47 which are received in counterbores provided in the secondary stop beams 38 and cover the cutouts 43 receiving the stop devices 42. The cover plates 47 ensure the flatness of the support surface of the secondary waterproofing membrane 9.

[0085] In connection with [Fig. 8], the arrangement of the primary 10 and secondary 7 thermally insulating barriers along the longitudinal edges 5 of the loading / unloading opening 14 is described. The secondary thermally insulating barrier 7 comprises a plurality of secondary edge insulating blocks 48 which are arranged along said longitudinal edges 5 of the loading / unloading opening 14. Similarly, the primary thermally insulating barrier 10 comprises a plurality of primary edge insulating blocks 51 which are arranged along said longitudinal edges 5.

[0086] The secondary insulating edge blocks 48 comprise along their longitudinal ends at least two cleats, namely a lower cleat 49 and an upper cleat 50, for example made of wood, fixed to said longitudinal ends. The ends of the primary insulating edge blocks 51 also comprise a cleat 52.

[0087] The lower cleat 49 is intended for anchoring the secondary edge insulating blocks 48 to the upper load-bearing wall 8 by means of secondary anchoring devices, not shown. According to an exemplary embodiment, the secondary anchoring devices comprise a stud which is welded to the load-bearing structure, between two adjacent secondary edge insulating blocks 48, a support element which is fitted onto the stud and bears against the lower cleat 49 of the two adjacent secondary edge insulating blocks 48. The secondary anchoring devices also comprise a nut which cooperates with the thread of the stud so as to ensure the fixing of the support element on the stud and Belleville washers which are mounted on the stud between the nut and the support element.

[0088] As illustrated in [Fig.8], the upper cleat 50 is intended for anchoring the primary edge insulating blocks 51 by means of primary anchoring devices 53. The primary anchoring devices 53 comprise an upper plate 54 and a lower plate 55 which are fixed to each other by means of adjustable fixing members, such as screws. The upper 54 and lower 55 plates are positioned so that the fixing members pass through the gap between the upper cleats 50 of the two adjacent secondary edge insulating blocks 48 and so that said upper cleats 50 are sandwiched between said upper 54 and lower 55 plates.

[0089] The primary anchoring devices 53 also comprise a threaded stud 56 which is fixed to the upper plate 54 and develops in the thickness direction towards the inside of the tank. The threaded stud 56 is intended to pass in a sealed manner through an orifice in the secondary sealing membrane 9. The primary anchoring device 53 also comprises a support element 57 which is fitted onto the threaded stud 56. The primary anchoring devices 53 also comprise a nut 58 which cooperates with the thread of the threaded stud 56 so as to ensure the fixing of the support element on the threaded stud 56 and Belleville washers 59 which are mounted on the threaded stud 56 between the nut 58 and the support element 57.

[0090] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 8], the primary anchoring devices 53 which are arranged along the longitudinal edge 5 of the loading / unloading opening 14 are each intended to ensure the anchoring of two primary edge insulating blocks 51 and two primary insulating panels 60. To do this, the primary insulating panels 60 which adjoin the primary edge insulating blocks 51, along the longitudinal edge 5 of the loading / unloading opening 14 have longitudinal ends which are aligned with the longitudinal ends of the primary edge insulating blocks 51. In addition, the primary insulating panels 60 are arranged astride the secondary edge insulating blocks 48 and the secondary insulating panels 61 which adjoin them.

[0091] Thus, the support elements 57 of the primary anchoring devices 53 are positioned in the space between the corners of two primary edge insulating blocks 51 and those of the two adjacent primary insulating panels 60. The support elements 57 each bear against two cleats 52 of the two primary edge insulating blocks 51 and against support zones of two adjacent primary insulating panels 60. The support zones of the primary insulating panels 60 are advantageously formed by a portion of the external rigid plate which projects beyond the internal rigid plate and the layer of insulating polymer foam. In the embodiment shown, the support zones of the primary insulating panels 60 have a dimension in the longitudinal direction greater than that of the cleats of the insulating boxes. Thus, the support elements 57 have a general T shape.

[0092] In another embodiment not shown, the secondary edge insulating blocks 48 are wider, that is to say they have a larger transverse dimension. The secondary edge insulating blocks 48 have two lower cleats and two upper cleats at each of their ends. One of the upper cleats is used to fix a primary anchoring device for anchoring two adjacent primary edge insulating blocks while the other of the upper cleats is used to fix another primary anchoring device for anchoring one or more primary insulating panels 60.

[0093] According to another embodiment not shown, two rows of secondary insulating edge blocks 48 are positioned along each of the longitudinal edges 5 of the loading / unloading opening 14. Thus, the primary edge insulating blocks are anchored by primary anchoring devices of the aforementioned type to the secondary edge insulating blocks of one of the rows while the primary insulating panels 60 which adjoin said longitudinal edge are anchored, also by primary anchoring devices of the aforementioned type, to the secondary edge insulating blocks of the other row.

[0094] In relation to figures 9 to 12, the arrangement of the primary 10 and secondary 7 thermally insulating barriers in the corner zones, at the intersection between the longitudinal edges 5 and the transverse edges 6 of the loading / unloading opening 14, is described below.

[0095] As illustrated in [Fig.9], a secondary fixing bracket 23, as described above in relation to [Fig.5], is disposed at each of the corner areas of the loading / unloading opening 14. The secondary fixing bracket 23 is here aligned with the secondary edge insulating blocks 37 which are disposed along a transverse edge 6 as with those disposed along a longitudinal edge 5.

[0096] The primary thermally insulating barrier 10 comprises in each of said corner zones of the loading / unloading opening 14, a primary corner insulating block 62, which is illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12. The primary corner insulating block 62 comprises a main portion 63 of rectangular parallelepiped shape and a projection 64 which projects transversely from the main portion 63. The projection 64 has a longitudinal dimension smaller than that of the main portion 63. The projection 64 is equipped with a cleat 65. The primary corner insulating block 62 is advantageously formed by a wooden box inside which is placed an insulating filling, such as perlite, glass wool or rock wool, for example.

[0097] The main portion 63 of the primary corner insulating block 62 is arranged along a transverse edge 6 while the projection 64 projects beyond the longitudinal edge 5 and is therefore located vertically, and more particularly below, a secondary fixing support 23 and in alignment with the primary edge insulating blocks 51 which are arranged along the longitudinal edge 5. The cleat 65 is positioned against the face of the projection 64 which is directed towards said primary edge insulating blocks 51 which are arranged along the longitudinal edge 5. As shown in [Fig. 11], a threaded stud 32 of a primary anchoring device 29 projects between the projection 64 of the primary corner insulating block 62 and the adjacent primary edge insulating block 51.

[0098] As shown in [Fig. 12], the support element 66 which is mounted on the threaded stud 32 bears against the cleat 65 of the advancement 64 and against a cleat of the primary edge insulating block 51. Furthermore, advantageously, one or more primary insulating panels 60 which adjoin the primary edge insulating block, along the longitudinal edge 5 of the loading / unloading opening 14 have a bearing surface 68, 69 against which the bearing element 66 bears. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous in that the primary anchoring devices 29 which are fixed to the secondary fixing supports 23 arranged in the corner zones each make it possible to fix both a primary edge insulating block 51 arranged along the longitudinal edge 5 and a primary corner insulating block 62 arranged along the transverse edge 6, which makes it possible to limit the number of primary anchoring devices 29 and, consequently, the number of sealed penetrations of the secondary waterproofing membrane 9.

[0099] As illustrated in [Fig. 12], the support element 66 of the primary anchoring device 29 which is fixed to the secondary fixing support 23, arranged in a corner zone, is positioned in a space between the advance 64 of the corner primary insulating block 62, a primary edge insulating block 51 arranged along the longitudinal edge 5 of the loading / unloading opening 14 and a support zone 68, 69 of one or two adjacent primary insulating panels 60. Thus, said support element 66 bears against the cleat 65 of the advance 64 of the corner primary insulating block 62, a cleat 67 fixed to the longitudinal end of the primary edge insulating block 51 arranged along the longitudinal edge 5 and the support zones 68, 69 of the two adjacent primary insulating panels 60.

[0100] With reference to [Fig. 13], a cutaway view of an LNG carrier ship 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.

[0101] 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 to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

[0102] [Fig. 13] shows an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, a subsea pipeline 76 and a land-based installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipelines 73. The movable arm 74 can be steered 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 subsea pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75. The subsea pipe 76 allows the transfer of the 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] 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, as defined by the claims.

[0105] 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 stated in a claim.

[0106] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

Claims

1. A liquefied gas storage facility comprising a supporting structure (2) and a sealed and thermally insulating tank (71) supported by the supporting structure (2), the supporting structure (2) comprising an upper supporting wall (8) and the tank (71) comprising a ceiling wall (4) which is fixed to the upper supporting wall (8), said ceiling wall (4) comprising, in a thickness direction, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier (7) fixed to the upper supporting wall (8), a secondary sealing membrane (9) resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier (7), a primary thermally insulating barrier (10) resting against the secondary sealing membrane (9), and a primary sealing membrane (11) resting against the primary thermally insulating barrier (10) and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas,said ceiling wall (4) being interrupted locally so as to delimit a loading / unloading opening (14) intended to be crossed by loading / unloading pipes, said loading / unloading opening (14) being defined by a first and a second transverse edges (6), parallel to a transverse direction (T) and a first and a second longitudinal edges (5) parallel to a longitudinal direction (L) perpendicular to the transverse direction (T);, the secondary thermally insulating barrier (7) of the ceiling wall (4) comprising: - a first secondary fixing support (23), made of metal, positioned in a corner area at the intersection between the first longitudinal edge and the first transverse edge; And - secondary edge insulating blocks (37, 48) which are arranged along the first longitudinal edge and the first transverse edge; the ceiling wall (4) comprising a first primary anchoring device (29) which is fixed to the first secondary fixing support (23); the primary thermally insulating barrier (10) of the ceiling wall (4) comprising: - a first primary edge insulating block (51) which is arranged along the first longitudinal edge and which comprises a support zone (67); and - a first primary corner insulating block (62) which comprises a main portion (63) arranged along the first transverse edge and a projection (64) which projects from the main portion (63) beyond the first longitudinal edge, vertically above the first secondary fixing support (23); said projection (64) comprising a bearing zone (64) opposite the first primary edge insulating block (51); the first primary anchoring device (29) comprising a bearing element (66) which bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall (8) against the bearing zone (67) of the first primary edge insulating block (51) and against the bearing zone (65) of the first primary corner insulating block (62).

2. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claim 1, wherein the primary thermally insulating barrier (10) comprises at least one primary insulating panel (60) which adjoins the first primary edge insulating block (51) and which comprises a bearing zone (69) against which the bearing element (66) bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall (8).

3. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first primary anchoring device (29) comprises a threaded stud (32) onto which the support element (66) is fitted and which passes in a sealed manner through an orifice provided in the secondary sealing membrane (9) and a nut (34) which is screwed onto the threaded stud (32) so as to hold the support element (66) against the support zones of the first primary edge insulating block (51) and the first primary corner insulating block (62).

4. A liquefied gas storage facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first primary corner insulating block (62) is formed by a box inside which an insulating lining is placed and in which the advancement support zone (64) is formed by a cleat.

5. A liquefied gas storage facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first secondary fixing support (23) comprises a secondary foot (25) which is anchored to the upper load-bearing wall (8) and a secondary cap (24) which is welded to the secondary foot (25) and which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction, in a plane parallel to the upper load-bearing wall (8).

6. Liquefied gas storage installation according to claim 5, in which the secondary foot (25) comprises two branches (26, 27) connected to each other by a central core (28), the branches (26, 27) extending in planes parallel to the transverse direction.

7. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first secondary fixing support (23) comprises a plate (30) which is fixed to the secondary cap (24) by fixing members (31).

8. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claims 4 and 7 taken in combination, wherein the threaded stud (32) is fixed to the plate (30).

9. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the secondary thermally insulating barrier (7) comprises a secondary stop beam (38) which extends along the first transverse edge and rests at least against the secondary cap (24) of the first secondary fixing support (23) and against one of the secondary edge insulating blocks (37) arranged along the first transverse edge, said secondary stop beam (38) being blocked, in the thickness direction of the ceiling wall, between the plate (30) and the secondary cap (24).

10. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claim 9, wherein the secondary stop beam (38) has one end equipped with a recess (39) in which the plate (30) is received so that said plate (30) is flush with an internal surface of the secondary stop beam (38).

11. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the first secondary fixing support (23) comprises a stop device (42) which is configured to block the secondary stop powder in translation in the longitudinal direction.

12. A liquefied gas storage facility according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the secondary sealing membrane (9) is connected in a sealed manner to the upper load-bearing wall (8), along the first transverse edge, by means of a secondary connection angle (19) comprising a first wing (20) which extends in a horizontal plane, bearing against the secondary stop beam (38), and a second wing (21) which extends in a vertical plane and is welded to an anchoring plate (22) secured to the upper load-bearing wall (8).

13. A liquefied gas storage facility according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the thermally insulating barrier se- secondary (7) comprises a plurality of secondary fixing supports (23) spaced along the first transverse edge, the secondary edge insulating blocks (37) being interposed, along the transverse edge, between two adjacent secondary fixing supports (23).

14. A liquefied gas storage facility according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the secondary thermally insulating barrier (7) comprises: - a second secondary fixing support (23), made of metal, positioned in a corner area at the intersection between the second longitudinal edge and the first transverse edge; - a second primary anchoring device which is attached to the second secondary fixing support; and - secondary edge insulation blocks which are arranged along the second longitudinal edge; the primary thermally insulating barrier (10) of the ceiling wall (4) comprising: - a second primary edge insulating block which is arranged along the second longitudinal edge; and - a second primary corner insulating block which comprises a main portion arranged along the first transverse edge and a projection which projects from the main portion beyond the first longitudinal edge, vertically above the second secondary fixing support; said projection comprising a support zone opposite the second primary edge insulating block; the second primary anchoring device comprising a support element which bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall (8), against the support zone of the second primary edge insulating block and against the support zone of the second primary corner insulating block.

15. A liquefied gas storage facility according to claim 14, wherein the secondary thermally insulating barrier (7) comprises: - a third and a fourth secondary fixing brackets, made of metal, positioned in a corner area respectively at the intersection between the first longitudinal edge and the second transverse edge and between the second longitudinal edge and the second transverse edge; - a third and a fourth primary anchoring device which is respectively fixed to the third and fourth secondary fixing brackets; the primary thermally insulating barrier (10) of the ceiling wall (4) comprising: - a third and a fourth primary edge insulating block which are respectively arranged along the first and second longitudinal edges; and - a third and a fourth primary corner insulating block which comprise a main portion arranged along the second transverse edge and a projection which projects from the main portion; the projection of the third primary corner insulating block projecting beyond the first longitudinal edge and comprising a support zone opposite the third primary edge insulating block; the third primary anchoring device comprising a support element which bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall (8), against the support zone of the third primary edge insulating block and against the support zone of the third primary corner insulating block; the advancement of the fourth primary corner insulating block projecting beyond the second longitudinal edge and comprising a support zone opposite the fourth primary edge insulating block; the fourth primary anchoring device comprising a support element which bears, in the direction of the upper load-bearing wall (8), against the support zone of the fourth primary edge insulating block and against the support zone of the fourth primary corner insulating block.

16. A vessel (70) for transporting a liquefied gas, the vessel comprising a liquefied gas storage facility according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17.

18. A transfer system for a liquefied gas, the system comprising a vessel (70) according to claim 16 and insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or land-based storage facility (77). A method of loading or unloading a ship (70) according to claim 16, wherein a liquefied gas is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) to or from the tank (71) of the ship (70).

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