Method for mounting a tank angle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mounting a tank corner, comprising: - providing a first row (1) of first insulating panels and a second row (2) of second insulating panels, the insulating panels comprising an inner plate (17, 27) and an anchoring device (4) fixed to the inner plate, providing a temporary positioning device (3) which comprises a first portion (31) and a second portion (34), in which the first portion and the second portion of the temporary positioning device are fixed to each other and form a predetermined fixed angle, fixing the first portion to each anchoring device of the first insulating panels and fixing the second portion to each anchoring device of the second insulating panels, fixing the first insulating panels to the first load-bearing wall (5) and the second insulating panels to the second load-bearing wall (6),detach the first and second insulating panels from the temporary positioning device. Figure for abstract: 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Method for mounting a tank angle Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating membrane tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquefied gas such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -163°C at atmospheric pressure. These tanks can be installed on land or on a floating structure. In particular, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a corner of such a tank. Technological background

[0002] A method for manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulating tank corner is known from the prior art. Such a manufacturing method comprises, at an angle formed by two load-bearing walls, a step of placing secondary thermally insulating panels against the load-bearing walls in order to form part of the angle of the tank.

[0003] Nevertheless, these secondary thermally insulating panels are installed individually, one after the other, by one or more operators during assembly. Consequently, such an assembly process is time-consuming to carry out and involves a very large number of operators. In addition, the individual installation of each panel may cause positioning shifts of the secondary thermally insulating panels relative to each other, both in the longitudinal direction of the tank and in its transverse direction. Such shifts are likely to lead to premature damage to the tank and to a reduction in the final properties of the tank. Summary of the invention

[0004] An idea underlying the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a tank angle which is fast and reliable.

[0005] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a method for mounting a sealed and thermally insulating tank corner, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a first row comprising first insulating panels and a second row comprising second insulating panels, the first and second insulating panels each comprising an internal plate and an anchoring device fixed to the internal plate, - provide a temporary positioning device which comprises a first portion intended to fix and support the first row of first insulating panels and a second portion intended to fix and support the second row of second insulating panels, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the temporary positioning device are fixed to each other and form a predetermined fixed angle with respect to each other, - fix the first portion on each anchoring device of the first insulating panels and fix the second portion on each anchoring device of the second insulating panels, then - position the first row and the second row at an angle formed by a first load-bearing wall and a second load-bearing wall, - fix the first insulating panels to the first load-bearing wall and the second insulating panels to the second load-bearing wall, - detach the first and second insulating panels from the temporary positioning device, then - remove the temporary positioning device.

[0006] Thanks to these characteristics, several insulating panels are moved and installed together at a corner of the tank, in particular via the temporary positioning device. Fixing the insulating panels to the temporary positioning device makes it possible to pre-position the insulating panels relative to each other at an inclination corresponding to the angle formed by the two load-bearing walls.

[0007] This method is more reliable and faster than installing the insulation panels individually.

[0008] According to embodiments, such a method may comprise one or more of the following features.

[0009] According to one embodiment, each anchoring device comprises a first tapped bore.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are respectively fixed via a first threaded rod to the first tapped bores of the anchoring devices of the first and second insulating panels.

[0011] According to one embodiment, each anchoring device comprises a second tapped bore spaced from the first tapped bore.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are respectively fixed via a second threaded rod to the second tapped bores of the anchoring devices of the first and second insulating panels.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first threaded rod and / or the second threaded rod comprises a stop device making it possible to ensure a temporary mechanical connection between the insulating panels and the first portion or the second portion.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the stop device comprises a nut, for example a wing nut, screw head, or metal part welded to one end of the threaded rod.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the anchoring device is located in the center of the internal plate.

[0016] According to one embodiment, an internal face of the anchoring device is flush with the internal surface of the internal plate.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the anchoring device has a portion positioned in the internal plate.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the anchoring device is an anchoring plate.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the anchoring plate is metallic.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the anchoring plate has an oblong shape.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the predetermined fixed angle is between 80° and 145°, preferably the predetermined fixed angle is 90° or 135°.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the temporary positioning device is metallic.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the temporary positioning device has the shape of a frame.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the temporary positioning device comprises a plurality of tubes.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the temporary positioning device is metallic.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the plurality of tubes is metallic.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the plurality of metal tubes are welded together. in order to form the temporary positioning device.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the first portion and the second portion of the temporary positioning device are fixed to each other via a metal plate folded and welded to the first and second portions.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the temporary positioning device comprises through holes intended to be located opposite the threaded bores of the anchoring devices of the first and second insulating panels.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the first portion comprises a plurality of tubes parallel to each other. According to one embodiment, each tube of the plurality of tubes parallel to each other comprises an orifice. According to one embodiment, each of the tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes is fixed to the anchoring device of one of the first insulating panels of the first row by means of a threaded rod which passes through the orifice of said tube and which is screwed into the threaded bore of said anchoring device.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the stop device of the threaded rod makes it possible to ensure a temporary mechanical connection between the insulating panels and the plurality of tubes.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the second portion comprises a plurality of tubes parallel to each other. According to one embodiment, each tube of the plurality of tubes parallel to each other comprises an orifice. According to one embodiment, each of the tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes is fixed to the anchoring device of one of the second insulating panels of the second row by means of a threaded rod which passes through the orifice of said tube and which is screwed into the tapped bore of said anchoring device.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the first portion is attached to the first insulating panels such that the spacing between adjacent first insulating panels is constant. According to one embodiment, adjacent tubes of the plurality of mutually parallel tubes of the first portion are spaced apart from each other by a fixed distance.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the second portion is fixed to the second insulating panels so that the spacing between the adjacent second insulating panels is constant. According to one embodiment, the adjacent tubes of the plurality of mutually parallel tubes of the second portion are spaced from each other by a fixed distance.

[0035] Thus, possible assembly offsets are greatly reduced compared to placing the panels individually. The method therefore allows precise placement of the panels with controlled spacing.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the spacing between the first and / or second adjacent insulating panels is between 10 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the spacing distance between the adjacent tubes is between 300 mm and 700 mm, preferably between 300 mm and 500 mm, for example 340 mm or 480 mm.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the first insulating panels each comprise an insulating foam sandwiched between the internal plate and an external plate.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the second insulating panels each comprise an insulating foam sandwiched between the internal plate and an external plate.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the first insulating panels and the second insulating panels each comprise a layer of insulating foam sandwiched between the inner plate and an outer plate.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the insulating foam comprises polyurethane (PU) and / or polyisocyanurate (PIR).

[0042] According to one embodiment, the insulating foam has a density of between 110 kg / m3 and 150 kg / m3.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the internal plate comprises a recess located in the center of the internal plate intended to retain the anchoring device between the insulating foam and the internal plate.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the anchoring device has a retained portion located between the insulating foam and the internal plate.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the first insulating panels and the second insulating panels have the following dimensions: - a first dimension between 250 and 480 mm, - a second dimension between 300 and 500 mm, and - a height between 200 and 380 mm, for example 300 mm high, the first dimension corresponds to a dimension of the insulating panel which is intended to extend in the direction of the edge formed by the first and second load-bearing walls, the second dimension corresponding to the dimension of the insulating panel which is perpendicular to the first dimension.

[0046] The dimensions of the first and second insulating panels must be considered with a tolerance of ± 10 mm.

[0047] Thus, the installation of these small-sized insulating panels is accelerated and facilitated by the present manufacturing method allowing a plurality of them to be affixed at the level of a wall corner.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the first insulating panels and the second insulating panels comprise at least one through-well along the thickness direction of the insulating panel, the method comprising inserting a fixing element into said well in order to fix the insulating panel against the load-bearing wall.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the through-well is filled with a thermally insulating lining such as polyurethane foam, polystyrene or glass wool.

[0050] According to one embodiment, at least one insulating element is positioned so as to fill a space located between the first and second rows at the angle formed by the first and second load-bearing walls.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the insulating element is made from compressible thermally insulating material such as glass wool, low density synthetic foam. According to one embodiment, the low density synthetic foam has a density of less than 50 kg / m3.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the insulating element comprises a core made of PU foam and an outer part made of compressible thermally insulating material.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the insulating element has the general shape of a triangular prism.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the first row of first insulating panels comprises n first insulating panels and the second row of second insulating panels comprises n second insulating panels, n being between 2 and 8 and preferably between 3 and 5 and even more preferably n is equal to 4.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of positioning mastic beads, the mastic beads are intended to be located between the first insulating panels and the first load-bearing wall and are intended to be located between the second insulating panels and the second load-bearing wall.

[0056] Thus, the flatness deviations of the first and second load-bearing walls are corrected. Indeed, the mastic beads serve to compensate for the deviations of each load-bearing wall relative to a flat reference surface. Consequently, the first and second insulating panels can be positioned without there being height offsets between the adjacent insulating panels, which makes it possible to avoid producing additional mechanical stresses in the sealing membranes and to increase the service life of the resulting sealed and thermally insulating tank.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the mastic beads are positioned against an external surface of the external plate of the first insulating panels and are positioned against an external surface of the second insulating panels.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the mastic beads are positioned against the first and second load-bearing walls.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the mastic beads are positioned before the step of positioning the first row and the second row at the angle formed by the two load-bearing walls.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the mastic beads are positioned after the step of fixing the first portion on each anchoring device of the first insulating panels and of fixing the second portion on each anchoring device of the second insulating panels.

[0061] According to embodiments, the mastic beads may comprise beads positioned in a longitudinal direction or beads positioned in a transverse direction.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the first and second insulating panels are secondary insulating panels, the method further comprises, after the step of removing the temporary positioning device, the following steps: - providing a first primary insulating panel and a second primary insulating panel, - fixing the first primary insulating panel to the anchoring device of a first secondary insulating panel of the first row and fixing the second primary insulating panel to the anchoring device of a second secondary insulating panel of the second row.

[0063] Thus, the anchoring device provides a dual functionality, namely to fix the temporary positioning device and then to fix a primary insulating panel. Such an arrangement makes it possible to further simplify the assembly because it is not necessary to add specific fixings for the temporary positioning device on the insulating panel.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises fixing a secondary waterproof membrane on the anchoring device before the step of fixing the first primary insulating panel on the anchoring device.

[0065] Thus, the anchoring device provides a triple functionality, namely to fix the temporary positioning device, to fix the secondary waterproof membrane and to fix a primary insulating panel.

[0066] The anchoring device within the meaning of the invention therefore serves to fix: - the temporary positioning device, or - the temporary positioning device and the overlying primary insulating panel, or - the temporary positioning device, the waterproof membrane and the underlying primary insulating panel. Brief description of the figures

[0067] 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.

[0068] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of insulating panels fixed to a temporary positioning device according to one embodiment of the method.

[0069] [Fig.2] represents a sectional view of the step of positioning and fixing the insulating panels of the insulating panels to two load-bearing walls, according to one embodiment of the method.

[0070] [Fig.3] represents a tank wall obtained by one embodiment of the method.

[0071] [Fig.4] represents a cutaway and schematic perspective view of a supporting structure intended to support a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing liquefied gas. Description of the embodiments

[0072] 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 inside and outside of the tank.

[0073] In relation to [Fig.l], we observe a first row 1 of first panels insulators 11, 12, 13, 14 and a second row 2 of second insulating panels 21, 22, 23, 24 which are fixed to a temporary positioning device 3.

[0074] Each of the first insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14 of the first row 1 has a sandwich structure comprising a layer of insulating foam 16 located between an external plate 15 and an internal plate 17.

[0075] Similarly, each of the insulating panels 21, 22, 23, 24 of the second row 2 has a sandwich structure comprising a layer of insulating foam 26 located between an external plate 25 and an internal plate 27.

[0076] The insulating foam layer 16, 26 is for example made of polyurethane reinforced with fibers.

[0077] The inner plate 17, 27 and the outer plate 15, 25 are rigid and made for example of plywood or of a composite composed of resin and fibers.

[0078] [Fig.l] also illustrates that insulating elements 18, 28 are positioned so as to fill a space located between the insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14 of the first row 1 and the insulating panels 21, 22, 23, 24 of the second row 2. Thus, the insulating elements 18 are positioned against lateral faces of the first insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14 while the insulating elements 28 are positioned against the lateral faces of the second insulating panels 21, 22, 23 and against the insulating elements 18. The insulating elements 18 and 28 contribute to the continuity of the thermal insulation between the first and second insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0079] The insulating elements 18, 28 are for example made of compressible material chosen from glass wool, rock wool, polyester wadding and a synthetic foam. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the insulating elements 18, 28 further comprise a core of PU or PIR foam and a layer of compressible material positioned against the lateral faces of the PU foam. For example, when the insulating element has a core of PU foam of generally triangular shape, the layers of compressible material such as glass wool are positioned against the lateral faces which are intended to be in contact with the first insulating panels, the second insulating panels and / or the adjacent insulating element.

[0080] The internal plate 17 of the insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 has a recess 117 in which is housed an anchoring plate 4 which is preferably metallic. Such an arrangement of anchoring plate 4 - recess 117 is notably visible in [Fig.3].

[0081] The recess 117 is for example located at the center of the internal plate 17. It has an internal section having a first dimension and an external section having a second dimension greater than the first dimension so as to provide a shoulder. The anchoring plate 4 has a shape complementary to that of recess 117.

[0082] Thus, the internal face of the anchoring plate 4 is flush with the internal face of the internal plate 17 of the insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 so as to form a flat surface intended to support a waterproof membrane 7. In addition, the anchoring plate 4 has an external section having a larger dimension than its internal section so that the external section of said anchoring plate 4 is in abutment against the shoulder of the recess. The anchoring plate 4 can also be glued to the insulating panel.

[0083] The metal plates 4 each have a generally oblong shape with a first tapped bore 41 which is spaced from a second tapped bore 42 (visible in [Fig. 3]). The first and second tapped bores will in particular serve as anchoring points for the temporary positioning device 3.

[0084] The temporary positioning device 3 is a metal structure comprising a first portion 31 and a second portion 34.

[0085] The first portion 31 comprises a plurality of first transverse metal tubes 32 which are parallel to each other and a first longitudinal metal tube 33 welded against a first end of the first transverse metal tubes 32.

[0086] The second portion 34 comprises a plurality of second transverse metal tubes 35 which are parallel to each other and a second longitudinal metal tube 36 welded against a first end of the second transverse metal tubes 35.

[0087] Each transverse metal tube 32 and 35 comprises a first through-orifice 51 which is spaced, in a longitudinal direction of the metal tube, from a second through-orifice 52. The spacing between the first and second through-orifices 51, 52 corresponds to the spacing between the first and second tapped bores 41, 42. The positioning of the transverse metal tubes 32, 35 and horizontal metal tubes 33, 36 does not cover the wells 70 so that the wells 70 are accessible for fixing the first and second insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0088] The first transverse metal tubes 32 each have a second end which is in contact with a second end of the second transverse metal tubes 35.

[0089] The first portion 31 and the second portion 34 are fixed to each other via a metal plate 37 which comprises a first part 38 which is positioned and welded on an inner surface of each first transverse metal tube 32, at the second end. The folded metal plate 37 further comprises a second part 39 which is positioned and welded on an inner surface of each second transverse metal tube 35, at the second end.

[0090] The metal plate 37 is bent such that a fixed angle of 135° is formed between the first portion 38 and the second portion 39. Consequently, the first portion 31 and the second portion 32 also form a fixed angle of 135° relative to each other. According to another embodiment, the angle may be different from 135°, and for example 90°.

[0091] During the fixing step, the first portion 31 of the temporary positioning device 3 is positioned against the first row 1. Each transverse metal tube 32 is aligned with an anchoring plate 4. The first and second through-holes 51, 52 are each positioned opposite one of the first and second threaded bores 41, 42. Then, a first threaded rod 61 is inserted into each through-hole 51 and a second threaded rod 62 is inserted into each through-hole 52, in order to fix the first portion 31 to the first row 1. The first threaded rod 61 has a threaded end which is fixed in the corresponding threaded bore 41 and a screw head which is positioned in abutment against the temporary positioning device 3 at the orifice 51.Similarly, the second threaded rod 62 has a threaded end which is fixed in the corresponding tapped bore 42 and a screw head which is positioned in abutment against the temporary positioning device 3 at the orifice 52. Such a threaded rod 61, 62 is for example a screw. The screw head could be replaced by a nut, such as a wing nut.

[0092] The same operations are carried out to fix the temporary positioning device 3 to the second row 2. Thus, the second portion 32 of the temporary positioning device 3 is positioned against the second row 2. Each transverse metal tube 35 is aligned with an anchoring plate 4. The first and second through-holes 51, 52 are each positioned opposite one of the first and second tapped bores 41, 42. Then, a first threaded rod 61 is inserted into each through-hole 51 and fixed in the corresponding tapped bore 41 and a second threaded rod 62 is inserted into each through-hole 52 and fixed in the corresponding tapped bore 42, in order to fix the second portion 34 to the second row 2.

[0093] The method comprises a step of positioning mastic beads 40 (illustrated in [Fig.2]) against the external surfaces of the external plates 15 of the first and second insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, to which the mastic beads 40 adhere.

[0094] The positioning step is illustrated with [Fig.2]. It is observed that the first row 1 and the second row 2 are positioned at an angle which is formed by a first load-bearing wall 5 and a second load-bearing wall 6, and which, in the embodiment shown, has a value of approximately 135°. The device of temporary positioning may include handling handles or anchors not shown making it possible to position, by human or mechanized means, the first and second rows 1, 2 which are integral with the temporary positioning device 3.

[0095] The first and second walls 5, 6 are for example formed by the double hull of a ship.

[0096] The first row 1 is positioned against the first load-bearing wall 5 and the second row 2 is positioned against the second load-bearing wall 6, by means of the mastic beads 40 in order to compensate for the gaps between the first and second load-bearing walls 5, 6 relative to a flat reference surface and to ensure sufficiently uniform support of the first and second insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24. The insulating elements 18 and 28 are located at the angle formed by the first and second walls 5, 6 and fill the space formed between the first insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and the second insulating panels 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0097] Each insulating panel 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 comprises two wells 70, visible in [Fig.l], and in each of which is inserted a fixing device, only partially illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, in order to fix the insulating panel to the corresponding load-bearing wall 5, 6. The fixing device comprises in particular a threaded stud 71 which is welded to the load-bearing wall 5, 6 and a support plate crossed by the threaded stud 71 and positioned against an internal surface of the external plate by means of a bolt screwed onto the threaded stud in order to fix the insulating panel to the load-bearing wall. Such wells 70 and fixing devices are for example illustrated in [Fig.l] of document FR2724623.

[0098] Following the fixing of the insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 to the corresponding load-bearing wall 5, 6, the first and second threaded rods 61, 62 are removed and the temporary positioning device 3 is removed.

[0099] The wells 70 can be filled using a thermally insulating lining, for example with polyurethane foam, polystyrene or glass wool.

[0100] According to an alternative embodiment illustrated with [Fig.3], the method further comprises additional steps.

[0101] In this embodiment, the insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 are secondary insulating panels on which a secondary waterproof membrane is fixed. The secondary waterproof membrane comprises a metal angle iron 7 which is welded against the internal face of the anchor plates 4. The metal angle iron 7 can further be fixed to the internal plate 17, 27 by screws or rivets.

[0102] The metal angle 7 is for example made of stainless steel or of an alloy with low coefficient of thermal expansion, particularly in Invar ®: that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 1.106 and 2.106 K1 or in an alloy of iron and manganese whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 7.106 and 9.106 K1.

[0103] The method further comprises fixing primary insulating panels.

[0104] Similarly to the secondary insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, the primary insulating panels comprise an insulating foam 83, 87 sandwiched between an inner plate 82, 86 and an outer plate 84, 88.

[0105] Furthermore, the outer plate 84, 88 has two orifices spaced from each other by a distance corresponding to the spacing between the first and second tapped bores 41, 42.

[0106] A first primary insulating panel 81 is positioned on the secondary waterproof membrane 7, straddling a first and a second secondary insulating panel 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0107] The first primary insulating panel 81 is fixed to the first and second secondary insulating panels 11, 12, 13, 14 via a primary fixing device comprising two threaded studs (not shown) which are each fixed to a tapped bore 41, 42 of the anchoring plate 4. The two threaded studs pass through the metal angle iron 7 of the secondary waterproof membrane and the external plate 82. The primary fixing device further comprises a primary support plate (not shown) crossed by the threaded studs and positioned against an internal surface of the external plate 82 by means of a bolt screwed onto the threaded stud in order to fix the first primary insulating panel against the secondary waterproof membrane 7.

[0108] A second primary insulating panel 85 is attached to the second secondary insulating panel 21, 22, 23, 24 in a manner analogous to the first primary insulating panel 81.

[0109] The internal plates 84, 88 comprise metal inserts (not shown) onto which a metal angle iron 8 of a primary metal waterproof membrane is welded.

[0110] The primary metal waterproof membrane 8 is intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank. The primary metal waterproof membrane is for example made of stainless steel.

[0111] The primary waterproof membrane is for example a corrugated membrane (not shown) having two series of undulations in two directions perpendicular to each other. Other details of such a membrane are described in particular in document WO2010040922A1.

[0112] A supporting structure 1 intended to support a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a liquefied gas is shown in [Fig. 4]. The supporting structure 90 may in particular be formed of self-supporting metal sheets or, more generally, of any type of rigid partition having suitable mechanical properties. The load-bearing structure 90 is, for example, formed by the double hull of a ship. In [Fig. 4], the load-bearing structure 90 has a generally polyhedral shape. It has two front and rear load-bearing walls 91, here octagonal in shape, of which only the rear load-bearing wall 91 is shown. The front and rear walls 91 are, for example, cofferdam walls of the ship which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ship. The load-bearing structure 90 also comprises an upper load-bearing wall 92, a lower load-bearing wall 93 and side load-bearing walls 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99.

[0113] For example, the load-bearing walls 5 and 6 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 may be two adjacent load-bearing walls chosen from the load-bearing walls 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99. In this case, the insulating panels of the first and second rows 1, 2 as illustrated with Figures 1 to 3 may have the following dimensions: - a first dimension of 320 mm which is intended to extend in the direction of the edge formed by the two load-bearing walls, - a second dimension 300 mm which is perpendicular to the first dimension, and - 300 mm height.

[0114] According to one embodiment, when the first row and the second row are positioned at an angle of approximately 90° which is formed by one of the load-bearing walls 92, 93, 95 or 98, with the front or rear load-bearing wall 91, the insulating panels of the first and second rows may have the following dimensions: - a first dimension of 320 mm which is intended to extend in the direction of the edge formed by the two load-bearing walls, - a second dimension of 370 mm which is perpendicular to the first dimension, and - 300 mm height.

[0115] According to one embodiment, when the first row and the second row are positioned at an angle of approximately 90° which is formed by one of the load-bearing walls 94, 96, 97, 99, with the front or rear load-bearing wall 91, the insulating panels of the first and second rows may have the following dimensions: - a first dimension of 460 mm which is intended to extend in the direction of the edge formed by the two load-bearing walls, - a second dimension of 490 mm which is perpendicular to the first dimension, and - 300 mm height.

[0116] 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.

[0117] The use of the verb “comport” or “comprendre” and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those stated in a claim.

[0118] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of mounting a sealed and thermally insulating tank corner, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a first row (1) comprising first insulating panels (11, 12, 13, 14) and a second row (2) comprising second insulating panels (21, 22, 23, 24), the first and second insulating panels each comprising an inner plate (17, 27) and an anchoring device (4) fixed to the inner plate, - providing a temporary positioning device (3) which comprises a first portion (31) for fixing and supporting the first row of first insulating panels and a second portion (34) for fixing and supporting the second row of second insulating panels, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the temporary positioning device are fixed to each other and form a predetermined fixed angle with respect to each other,- fixing the first portion on each anchoring device of the first insulating panels and fixing the second portion on each anchoring device of the second insulating panels, then - positioning the first row and the second row at an angle formed by a first load-bearing wall (5) and a second load-bearing wall (6), - fixing the first insulating panels to the first load-bearing wall and the second insulating panels to the second load-bearing wall, - detaching the first and second insulating panels from the temporary positioning device, then - removing the temporary positioning device.,

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each anchoring device comprises a first threaded bore (41, 42), wherein the first portion and the second portion are respectively fixed via a first threaded rod (61, 62) to the first threaded bores (41, 42) of the anchoring devices of the first and second insulating panels.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein each anchoring device comprises a second threaded bore (42) spaced from the first threaded bore (41), wherein the first portion and the second portion are respectively fixed via a second threaded rod (62) to the second threaded bores (42) of the devices anchoring (4) of the first and second insulating panels.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the anchoring device is located in the center of the internal plate.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the anchoring device is an anchoring plate (4).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the predetermined fixed angle is between 80° and 145°, preferably the predetermined fixed angle is 90° or 135°.

7. A method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first insulating panels and the second insulating panels each comprise a layer of insulating foam (16, 26) sandwiched between the inner plate and an outer plate (15, 25).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which at least one insulating element (18, 28) is positioned so as to fill a space located between the first and second rows at the angle formed by the first and second load-bearing walls.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the first row of first insulating panels comprises n first insulating panels and the second row of second insulating panels comprises n second insulating panels, n being between 2 and 8.

10. The method of claim 1 to 9, wherein the first portion is attached to the first insulating panels such that the spacing between adjacent first insulating panels is constant, and wherein the second portion is attached to the second insulating panels such that the spacing between adjacent second insulating panels is constant.

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the first and second insulating panels are secondary insulating panels (11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24) the method further comprises, after the step of removing the temporary positioning device, the following steps: - providing a first primary insulating panel (81) and a second primary insulating panel (85), - fixing the first primary insulating panel to the anchoring device of a first secondary insulating panel of the first row and fixing the second primary insulating panel to the anchoring device of a second secondary insulating panel of the second row.

12. Method according to one of claims 2 to 11, in which the first portion comprises a plurality of tubes (32) parallel to each other, each tube of the plurality of tubes parallel to each other comprising an orifice (51, 52) and in which each of the tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes is fixed to the anchoring device of one of the first insulating panels of the first row by means of a threaded rod which passes through the orifice of said tube and which is screwed into the threaded bore of said anchoring device.

13. Method according to one of claims 2 to 12, and in which the second portion comprises a plurality of tubes (35) parallel to each other, each tube of the plurality of tubes parallel to each other comprises an orifice (51, 52) and in which each of the tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes is fixed to the anchoring device of one of the second insulating panels of the second row by means of a threaded rod which passes through the orifice of said tube and which is screwed into the tapped bore of said anchoring device.

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