CORNER STRUCTURE FOR A SEALED AND THERMALLY INSULATING TANK AND TANK COMPRISING SUCH A CORNER STRUCTURE

Abstract

A corner structure (10) for manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) in a supporting structure (3), comprises: - two panels (11, 12) made of thermally insulating material, each having a flat internal face (13), the flat internal faces being inclined to each other to form a dihedron having an edge (15); - a flexible waterproof sheet (34), arranged astride the flat internal faces of the two panels; in which the two panels each comprise a connecting zone (16, 17), at a distance from the edge, provided with an adhesion means (29) fixing the flexible waterproof sheet; and a receiving space (18), astride the edge between the connecting zones, located between the flexible waterproof sheet and the internal face of the panels, is intended to receive an anti-drip sheet (31). A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) comprises the corner structure (10). Figure to be published: Fig. 5

Description

Title of the invention: CORNER STRUCTURE FOR A SEALED AND THERMALLY INSULATING TANK AND TANK COMPRISING SUCH A CORNER STRUCTURE Technical field

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

[0002] A sealed and thermally insulating tank is known comprising a secondary sealed membrane manufactured by bonding sealed composite sheets, for example in FR-A-2822815. Summary

[0003] One idea underlying the invention is to facilitate the assembly of a bonded waterproof membrane, particularly in corner areas of a waterproof and thermally insulating tank.

[0004] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a corner structure intended for the manufacture of a sealed and thermally insulating tank in a supporting structure, the corner structure comprising: - a first panel made of thermally insulating material and a second panel made of thermally insulating material each having a flat internal face intended to be turned towards the interior of the sealed and thermally insulating tank and an external face intended to be turned towards the supporting structure; the flat internal face of the first panel being inclined relative to the flat internal face of the second panel by an angle corresponding to a corner zone of the sealed and thermally insulating tank to be manufactured, the flat internal face of the first panel and the flat internal face of the second panel forming a dihedral having an edge which extends in a longitudinal direction of the corner structure; - a flexible waterproof sheet, in particular waterproof to liquids and gases, placed astride the flat internal face of the first panel and the flat internal face of the second panel.

[0005] In the corner structure, the flat inner face of the first panel comprises a first connecting zone and the flat inner face of the second panel comprises a second connecting zone, the first connecting zone and the second connecting zone being at a distance from said edge, the first connecting zone being provided with an adhesion means fixing the flexible waterproof sheet in a sealed manner, in particular in a liquid- and gas-tight manner, to the inner face of the first panel, and the second connecting zone being provided with an adhesion means fixing the flexible waterproof sheet to the inner face of the second panel, and, the corner structure comprises a receiving space intended to receive an anti-sag sheet at a first longitudinal end of the corner structure, the receiving space being located, in particular in a thickness direction of the corner structure, between the flexible waterproof sheet,the flat internal face of the first panel and the flat internal face of the second panel, the receiving space being located astride the edge between the first connecting zone and the second connecting zone.

[0006] Such a corner structure thus comprises a receiving space capable of housing an anti-drip sheet capable of forming a barrier capable of preventing excess glue from flowing at the edge of the corner structure and hardening there.

[0007] According to embodiments, such a corner structure may comprise one or more of the following features.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the receiving space is a first receiving space and the corner structure comprises a second receiving space intended to receive an anti-drip sheet at a second longitudinal end of the corner structure opposite the first longitudinal end, the second receiving space being located between, on the one hand, the flexible waterproof sheet, and on the other hand, the flat internal face of the first panel and the flat internal face of the second panel covered by the flexible waterproof sheet, the second receiving space being located astride the edge between the first connection zone and the second connection zone.

[0009] Advantageously, such a second receiving space makes it possible to provide a housing for an end portion of an anti-sag sheet of a neighboring corner structure, so as to ensure optimal holding of the anti-sag sheet between the two corner structures, and thus optimally prevent excess glue from flowing into the gap between the neighboring corner structures.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the corner structure comprises at least one anti-sag sheet, the anti-sag sheet being arranged at least partially in said receiving space or one of the receiving spaces.

[0011] Advantageously, providing the anti-drip sheet during supply, for example prior to the installation of the flexible waterproof sheet, makes it possible to prevent the flexible waterproof sheet from being pressed against the two thermally insulating panels at the receiving space and from complicating the subsequent effective insertion of an anti-drip sheet during assembly of the sealed and thermally insulating tank.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the anti-drip sheet is a first anti-drip sheet and the corner structure comprises a second anti-drip sheet arranged at least partially in the second receiving space.

[0013] Advantageously, such a second anti-drip sheet can be removed during the manufacture of the tank wall with the corner structure against the supporting structure so as to free the second receiving space. The second anti-drip sheet makes it possible to prevent the flexible waterproof sheet from being pressed against the two thermally insulating panels at the second receiving space. Providing the second anti-drip sheet during the manufacture of the corner structure and up to the manufacture of the tank wall therefore makes it possible to guarantee that the volume of the second receiving space is available to accommodate the end of an anti-drip sheet arranged astride two corner structures during the manufacture of the tank wall, as will be described below.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the or each anti-drip sheet is made of a flexible polymer material, preferably vinyl.

[0015] Advantageously, this material is readily available, inexpensive, and semi-rigid, exhibiting sufficient flexibility to be installed in the respective receiving spaces while providing good resistance to the stresses exerted between adjacent corner structures.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the or each anti-sag sheet has a degree of freedom in translation in the corresponding reception space (i.e. in the first or second reception space), along the edge of the dihedral of the corner structure.

[0017] Advantageously, this degree of freedom in translation makes it possible to slide the anti-drip sheet between two positions: one in which the anti-drip sheet is concealed under the flexible waterproof sheet in the corresponding receiving space, the other in which the anti-drip sheet is partially or totally extracted from the corresponding receiving space. It is thus possible to house a second end portion of the anti-drip sheet in a corresponding receiving space, opposite, in a neighboring corner structure, or to completely remove the anti-drip sheet from the receiving space.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the anti-drip sheet comprises a first end portion arranged in said receiving space, an intermediate portion intended to extend through a mounting chimney between the corner structure and another corner structure, and a second end portion for being disposed in a receiving space of the other corner structure. According to one embodiment, the intermediate portion and the second end portion constitute an outgoing portion projecting from the first longitudinal end of the corner structure.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the, or each, anti-drip sheet comprises at least one positioning aid means delimiting the intermediate portion of the anti-drip sheet. According to embodiments, the at least one positioning aid means may be visual and / or tactile, preferably a visually contrasting and / or colored marking relative to the end portions of the anti-drip sheet, for example colored parallel lines, and / or a raised and / or hollow marking.

[0020] Advantageously, such a positioning aid means makes it possible to ensure that the tank assembly operator correctly positions each anti-drip sheet without compromising the integrity of the seal between the neighboring corner structures.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the adhesion means of the first connection zone and / or the second connection zone is in the form of a strip of glue.

[0022] According to one embodiment, a wooden wedge is inserted at the edge of the dihedral between, on the one hand, the flexible waterproof sheet and, on the other hand, the flat internal face of the first panel and the flat internal face of the second panel, said receiving space being located between the flexible waterproof sheet and the wooden wedge.

[0023] Advantageously, such a shim makes it possible to limit the radius of curvature of the flexible waterproof sheet during the manufacture of the corner panel.

[0024] According to one embodiment, each of the first panel and the second panel comprises a composite sheet, the composite sheet being impervious to liquids and gases and forming the flat internal face of the first panel and the second panel.

[0025] Advantageously, such a composite sheet makes it possible to guarantee the sealing of the tank at the level of the flat internal face of each panel.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the first panel, respectively the second panel, further comprises a block of polymer foam and a rigid plate, the rigid plate being arranged between the block of polymer foam and the composite sheet.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the corner structure suitable for producing the tank wall in a trihedron zone of the supporting structure, the dihedron formed by the flat internal face of the first panel and the flat internal face of the second panel is a first dihedron and the longitudinal direction is a first longitudinal direction, the corner structure further comprising a third panel made of thermally insulating material, the third panel having a flat internal face intended to be turned towards the inside of the sealed and thermally insulating tank and an external face intended to be turned towards the supporting structure, the flat internal face of the third panel interrupting the edge of the first dihedron at one end of the edge of the first dihedron opposite the first longitudinal end, the flat internal face of the third panel forming with the flat internal face of the first panel a second dihedron having an edge which extends in a second longitudinal direction intersecting the first longitudinal direction.

[0028] In this case, the flexible waterproof sheet is also arranged astride the flat internal face of the third panel, the flat internal face of the third panel comprising a third connection zone at a distance from the edge of the second dihedron, the third connection zone being provided with an adhesion means further fixing the flexible waterproof sheet in a sealed manner, in particular in a liquid- and gas-tight manner, to the flat internal face of the third panel.In this case, the receiving space may be a first receiving space and the corner structure may comprise a second receiving space intended to receive an anti-sag sheet at one end of the corner structure in the second longitudinal direction, the second receiving space being located between, on the one hand, the flexible waterproof sheet, and on the other hand, the internal face of the first panel and the internal face of the third panel covered by the flexible waterproof sheet, the second receiving space being located astride the edge of the second dihedron between the first connecting zone and the third connecting zone.

[0029] In the same way, the flat internal face of the third panel can form with the flat internal face of the second panel a third dihedron having an edge which extends in a third longitudinal direction intersecting the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. The corner structure can comprise a third receiving space intended to receive an anti-sag sheet at one end of the corner structure terminating the edge of the third dihedron, the third receiving space being located between on the one hand the flexible waterproof sheet, and on the other hand the internal face of the second panel and the internal face of the third panel covered by the flexible waterproof sheet, the third receiving space being located astride the edge of the third dihedron between the second connecting zone and the third connecting zone.

[0030] The invention also provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank intended to be integrated into a supporting structure, the sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising a first corner structure and a second corner structure mentioned above, the first and second corner structures being installed along an edge of the supporting structure so as to delimit a mounting chimney between the first and second corner structures, a space for receiving the first corner structure being arranged opposite a space for receiving the second corner structure, a anti-drip sheet having a first end portion engaged in the receiving space of the first corner structure and a second end portion engaged in the receiving space of the second corner structure, said anti-drip sheet having an intermediate portion extending through the mounting chimney.

[0031] According to one embodiment, in the sealed and thermally insulating tank, a flexible sealed junction sheet is glued astride the flexible sealed sheet of the first corner structure and the flexible sealed sheet of the second corner structure so as to cover the mounting chimney and the intermediate portion of the anti-drip sheet.

[0032] Advantageously, such a flexible waterproof junction sheet makes it possible to ensure good sealing between the two corner structures, at the level of the mounting chimney.

[0033] Such a tank may be part of a land-based storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or may be installed in a floating, coastal, or deep-water structure, including an LNG carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO), and others. Such a tank may also serve as a fuel tank in any type of vessel.

[0034] According to one embodiment, a ship for transporting a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and a aforementioned sealed and thermally insulating tank arranged in the double hull.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the aforementioned ship, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the sealed and thermally insulating tank of the ship to a floating or land-based storage facility and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the sealed and thermally insulating tank of the ship.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading a ship, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or land-based storage facility to or from the sealed and thermally insulating tank of the aforementioned ship. Brief description of the figures

[0037] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description. of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings. • [Fig. 1] is a partial perspective and sectional view of a sealed and thermally insulating tank showing a corner area of ​​the tank; • [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view showing a corner structure according to a first embodiment which can be used in the tank of [Fig.l]; • [Fig.3] is an exploded sectional view of the corner structure of [Fig.2]; • [Fig.4] shows an anti-sag sheet that the corner structure includes of [Fig.3]; • [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the corner area of ​​the sealed tank and thermally insulating [Fig.l] during its manufacture, showing a mounting chimney between two neighboring corner structures, and the anti-drip sheet arranged astride the two corner structures across the mounting chimney; • [Fig.6] is a perspective view similar to [Fig.5], showing the corner area of ​​the tank at a later stage of its manufacture, in which said flexible waterproof joining sheet is arranged astride the two neighboring corner structures, and covers the mounting chimney and the anti-drip sheet; • [Fig.7] is a partial sectional view of the corner area of ​​the tank along the bisector plane BB of [Fig.6]; • [Fig.8] is an exploded view similar to [Fig.3], showing a structure corner according to a second embodiment; • [Fig.9] is a perspective view similar to [Fig.5] showing the use of the corner structure according to the second embodiment in a corner area of ​​the tank; • [Fig. 10] is a perspective view showing an angle structure according to a third embodiment; and, • [Fig.l 1] is a schematic cutaway representation of an LNG carrier comprising a ship tank and a loading / unloading terminal for this ship. Detailed description of embodiments

[0038] [Fig.l] illustrates a portion of a sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 in a corner zone in the vicinity of an edge 301 between two flat walls of the supporting structure 3. This tank 1 is a membrane tank for storing liquefied gas. The tank 1 has a tank wall 2 resting against a polyhedral supporting structure 3. More precisely, the tank 1 is integrated into the supporting structure 3. tank wall 2 has a multi-layer structure which comprises, from the outside to the inside, a secondary layer 4 and a primary layer 7.

[0039] In the present description, the terms “interior” and “exterior” are to be understood as describing a relative position with respect to an interior, respectively an exterior of the tank 1.

[0040] The secondary layer 4 comprises a secondary thermally insulating barrier 5, comprising modular insulating elements, and a secondary waterproof membrane 6, which comprises different elements assembled by gluing, in particular here composite sheets 33 and two flexible waterproof sheets 34 and 35. The secondary waterproof membrane 6 is arranged against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 and is impervious to liquids and gases.

[0041] The primary layer 7 comprises a primary thermally insulating barrier 8, comprising insulating modular elements, and a primary waterproof membrane 9, see [Fig.l] and 5. The primary waterproof membrane 9 is intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank 1.

[0042] The primary thermally insulating barrier 8 is here arranged against the secondary waterproof membrane 6.

[0043] In practice, the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5, the secondary waterproof membrane 6, and the primary thermally insulating barrier 8 may be produced in the form of a plurality of prefabricated flat structures 100, which are juxtaposed on the load-bearing walls and a plurality of prefabricated corner structures 10, which are juxtaposed along the edges. The general geometry of these prefabricated structures is described for example in the publication FR-A-2691520.

[0044] The primary waterproof membrane 9 covers the primary thermally insulating barrier 8 and defines an internal space 20 intended to receive the liquefied gas. For example, it may be a corrugated metal membrane made of stainless steel, in particular described in publications WO-A-2010040922 or FR-A-2861060.

[0045] The liquefied gas intended to be stored in the tank 1 may in particular be a liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is to say a gas mixture comprising mainly methane and one or more other hydrocarbons. The liquefied gas may also be ethane or a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), that is to say a mixture of hydrocarbons resulting from the refining of petroleum comprising essentially propane and butane.

[0046] With reference to figures 2, 3 and 5, we will now describe more precisely corner structures 10 according to a first embodiment, prefabricated, which can be used along the edge 301.

[0047] [Fig.2] partially illustrates the elements of such an angle structure 10 during of its manufacture, before the installation of a flexible waterproof sheet 34 and an arrangement primary corner 39. [Fig.3] illustrates the corner structure 10 in an exploded view to facilitate understanding of the stacking of these elements. In [Fig.3], an arrow C, oriented from the outside to the inside, indicates the direction of thickness of the tank wall 2.

[0048] The corner structure 10 comprises a first panel 11 and a second panel 12. Each panel 11 and 12 comprises, stacked from the outside to the inside: a rigid plate 25, a block of polymer foam 26, a rigid plate 27 and a composite sheet 33.

[0049] The composite sheet 33 of each of the panels 11 and 12 forms a flat internal face 13, intended to be turned towards the inside of the tank 1, and the rigid plate 25 forms an external face 14, intended to be turned towards the supporting structure 3.

[0050] The flat internal face 13 of the first panel 11 is inclined relative to the flat internal face 13 of the second panel 12 by an angle A, here equal to 90°, corresponding to a corner zone of the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 to be manufactured. The flat internal face 13 of the first panel 11 and the flat internal face 13 of the second panel 12 thus form a dihedral. The dihedral has an edge 15 at the meeting of the planes of the flat internal faces 13 of the panels 11 and 12. The edge 15 then extends in a longitudinal direction X of the corner structure 10. The corner structure 10 comprises a first longitudinal end 22 and a second longitudinal end 23, opposite each other in the longitudinal direction X. The edge 15 then extends between the second longitudinal end 23 and the first longitudinal end 22.

[0051] The corner structure 10 also includes a glass wool filling 32, an optional wooden wedge 24, and a flexible waterproof sheet 34.

[0052] For each panel 11 and 12, the rigid plate 25, the polymer foam block 26 and the rigid plate 27 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 are stacked in this order from the outside to the inside. The rigid plates 25 and 27 are preferably plywood plates. These provide a certain rigidity, therefore good mechanical strength to the thermally insulating barrier 5.

[0053] A composite sheet 33 is part of the secondary waterproof membrane 6 and constitutes the flat internal face 13 of each of the first and second panels 11 and 12, respectively, as seen in Figures 3 and 5. The composite sheets 33 are liquid- and gas-tight. They ensure the sealing of the tank at the level of the flat internal face of each panel. Each composite sheet 33 is arranged on the rigid plate 27 of the corresponding panel 11 or 12. The composite sheet 33 may be made of a laminated composite material comprising a layer of aluminum between two layers of glass fibers and resin.

[0054] The glass wool packing 32, visible in Figures 2 and 3, fills a mounting gap 36 between the panels 11 and 12 of the corner structure 10. It will be understood that the glass wool packing 32 is made of fibrous material and that its shape depends on the elements which surround it. In the example illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the glass wool packing 32 is for example in contact with the polymer foam blocks 26 and the rigid plates 27, and therefore adapts to their respective shape. The glass wool packing 32 makes it possible to complete the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 at the mounting gap 36, while allowing a degree of freedom in contraction and expansion of the panels 11 and 12 between them.

[0055] As can be seen in Figures 3 and 5, the flexible waterproof sheet 34, impervious to liquids and gases, is arranged astride the flat internal face 13 of the first panel 11 and the flat internal face 13 of the second panel 12. The flexible waterproof sheet 34 can be made of a laminated composite material comprising a layer of aluminum between two layers of glass fibers. The flexible waterproof sheet 34 provides continuity to the secondary waterproof membrane 6 at the edge 15.

[0056] To this end, the flat internal face 13 of the first panel 11 comprises a first connecting zone 16. The first connecting zone 16 is provided with an adhesion means 29 fixing the flexible waterproof sheet 34 in a liquid- and gas-tight manner to the internal face 13 of the first panel 11.

[0057] Similarly, the flat internal face 13 of the second panel 12 comprises a second connecting zone 17. The second connecting zone 17 is provided with an adhesion means 29 fixing the flexible waterproof sheet 34 in a liquid- and gas-tight manner to the internal face 13 of the second panel 12.

[0058] The first connecting zone 16 and the second connecting zone 17 are each located at a distance from the edge 15 and the edges of the panels 11 and 12 facing each other.

[0059] Preferably, and without limitation, the first connecting zone 16 and the second connecting zone 17 are arranged symmetrically on either side of the edge 15.

[0060] In the first connecting zone 16 and / or the second connecting zone 17, the adhesion means 29 is here in the form of a strip of adhesive. Preferably, the adhesion means 29 of the first and second connecting zones 16 and 17 are each a strip of adhesive.

[0061] Two intermediate zones 30, visible in [Fig.2], extend between the edge 15 and the connecting zones 16 and 17 respectively. The intermediate zones 30 of the composite plies 33 are free of adhesion means.

[0062] The corner structure 10 preferably comprises, but not limited to, a wooden wedge 24. The wooden wedge 24 is inserted at the edge 15 of the dihedral between the flexible waterproof sheet 34 and the composite sheets 33 of the first panel 11 and the second panel 12.

[0063] Thus, the flexible waterproof sheet 34 ([Fig. 3]) has an unglued portion, at the level of the intermediate zones 30, which is free to contract under the effect of temperature variation. This unglued portion delimits receiving spaces 18 and 19 in the vicinity of the edge 15, which are accessible from the two longitudinal ends 22 and 23 of the corner structure 10 and which make it possible to retain an anti-drip sheet 31 between the flexible waterproof sheet 34 and the composite sheets 33, and / or between the flexible waterproof sheet 34 and the wooden wedge 24, at one of the or both longitudinal ends 22 and 23 of the corner structure 10 ([Fig. 2] and 5). In [Fig.2], the corner structure 10 is shown with an anti-sag sheet 31 placed at each of its two longitudinal ends 22 and 23.

[0064] The anti-drip sheet 31 is now described below with reference to [Fig.4].

[0065] The anti-drip sheet 31 comprises a first end portion 310 from from one end 316, a second end portion 313 from one end 317 and an intermediate portion 312 between the end portions 310 and 313. The anti-drip sheet 31 further comprises at least one positioning aid means for identifying the intermediate portion 312. This positioning aid means here takes the form of the two lines 314 which delimit the intermediate portion 312, namely the portion of the anti-drip sheet 31 which must be used to span a mounting chimney, as will be described below.

[0066] The positioning aid may take other forms not illustrated, for example a colored band or colored lines or a hatched area.

[0067] The first end portion 310 and the second end portion 313 may measure, for example, 50 mm + / - 20 mm in length along the longitudinal direction XI of the anti-drip sheet 31. The dimension of the intermediate portion 312 corresponds to the width of a mounting chimney, which may be fixed in a standardized manner in the mounting planes of the tank, for example 30 mm. The width of the anti-drip sheet 31 must allow sufficient coverage of the corner zone of the mounting chimney on either side of the edge. It is, for example, approximately 100 mm.

[0068] The anti-drip sheet 31 is preferably made of a polymer material, preferably, and not limited to, a non-stick and / or transparent polymer material, and even more preferably vinyl. Its thickness must ensure sufficient rigidity to span the mounting chimney. It may be a few tenths of a millimeter, for example 0.4 mm.

[0069] The anti-drip sheet 31 is useful in the manufacture of the tank wall 2, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Thus, the anti-drip sheet 31 can be assembled to the corner structure 10 during the manufacture of the tank wall 2 in the supporting structure 3. However, to facilitate handling and limit the operations to be carried out in the supporting structure 3, it may be useful to pre-assemble a sheet anti-drip sheet 31 to the corner structure 10 and to handle the corner structure 10 already equipped with the anti-drip sheet 31, or even two anti-drip sheets 31.

[0070] To do this, an end portion of the anti-drip sheet 31 is inserted into the corner structure 10 under the flexible waterproof sheet 34, for example up to the line 314, so as to allow an outgoing portion consisting of the intermediate part 312 and the other end portion to protrude.

[0071] As shown in [Fig. 2], the anti-drip sheet(s) 31 may already be placed in the corner structure 10 during the manufacture thereof, in particular before the installation and bonding of the flexible waterproof sheet 34. Thus, starting from the intermediate manufacturing state shown in [Fig. 2], the installation and bonding of the flexible waterproof sheet 34 are then carried out by covering the anti-drip sheet(s) 31 already in place. Alternatively, the anti-drip sheet 31 may be inserted into the corner structure 10 under the flexible waterproof sheet 34 after the installation and bonding thereof. In both cases, since the intermediate zone 30 is free of glue, the or each anti-drip sheet 31 is not attached or bonded to the corner structure 10 and therefore has a degree of freedom in translation along the edge 15 in the receiving spaces 18 and 19.In other words, after manufacturing the corner structure 10, each anti-sag sheet 31 can be moved to insert it more or less deeply into the receiving space 18 or 19, to remove it or to replace it there.

[0072] Finally, as seen in Figures 3 and 5, the corner structure 10 comprises primary corner arrangements 39 mounted above the flexible sealing sheet 34 to form elements of the primary thermally insulating barrier 8 and the primary sealing membrane 9 in the corner area of ​​the tank. More details on the primary corner arrangements 39 can be found for example in publications WO-A-2020260440 and WO-A-2021058826.

[0073] With reference to Figures 5 to 7, the manufacture of the tank wall 2 using the corner structure 10 will now be described.

[0074] In the corner area of ​​the tank 1, the tank wall 2 is initiated by the installation of several corner structures 10 juxtaposed along the edge 301 in the supporting structure 3.

[0075] In the illustrated example, a first corner structure 10 and a second corner structure 10 are installed along the edge 301 (visible in [Fig.l]) that the supporting structure 3 has. These two corner structures 10 are arranged next to each other and delimit between them a mounting chimney 136. The mounting chimney 136 is an interval provided to offer a mounting tolerance between the two corner structures 10, for example with a width of 30 mm.

[0076] In order to ensure the continuity of the secondary insulation barrier 5, an insulating packing 132, for example made of glass wool, is arranged in the mounting chimney 136. The insulating packing 132 is visible in the section of [Fig.7] but omitted from Figures 5 and 6 for readability. The insulating packing 132 is preferably made of compressible material so that it can completely fill the mounting chimney 136. In the mounting chimney 136, the insulating packing 132 is for example in contact with the rigid plates 25, the polymer foam blocks 26 and the rigid plates 27, of the panels 11 and 12 of the two neighboring corner structures 10. The insulating packing 132 makes it possible to complete the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 at the mounting chimney 136, while allowing a degree of freedom in contraction and expansion of the neighboring corner structures 10.

[0077] Furthermore, after the first corner structure 10 and the second corner structure 10 are arranged next to each other, the first receiving space 18 of the first corner structure 10 is located opposite a corresponding second receiving space 19 of the second corner structure 10. The anti-drip sheet 31, described previously, is then mounted between the two corner structures 10. More precisely, the first end portion 310 of the anti-drip sheet 31 is engaged in the first receiving space 18, while the second end portion 313 is engaged in the second receiving space 19. Furthermore, the intermediate portion 312 of the sheet 31 extends through the mounting chimney 136, above the insulating stuffing 132.

[0078] Then, as shown in [Fig. 6], a waterproof joining sheet 35 is glued astride the two adjacent corner structures to complete the secondary waterproof membrane 6. More specifically, the internal surface of the panels 11 and 12 of the two corner structures 10 is glued with a layer of glue 129 ([Fig. 7]) over the entire end portion of the two corner structures 10, namely at the longitudinal end 22 of the first corner structure 10 and at the longitudinal end 23 of the second corner structure 10 between the primary corner arrangements 39, to receive the flexible waterproof joining sheet 35. The waterproof joining sheet 35 is thus glued to the composite sheets 33 and to the flexible waterproof sheet 34 of each of the two corner structures 10 so as to cover the mounting chimney 136.In the vicinity of the edge, the waterproof joining sheet 35 also covers the intermediate portion 312 of the anti-drip sheet 31, as visible in [Fig.7].

[0079] As can be seen in [Fig.7], the anti-drip sheet 31 located across the mounting chimney 136 then forms a retention barrier preventing the layer of glue 129 used to fix the waterproof joining sheet 35 from becoming stuck. The anti-drip sheet 31 then prevents this glue from flowing into the mounting chimney 136. The contraction and expansion capacity of the components of the tank 1 at the level of the edge 15, in particular of the flexible waterproof sheet 34 and of the insulating stuffing 132, is therefore not hindered by the presence of glue.

[0080] Conversely, in the absence of the anti-drip sheet 31, the glue 129 could creep and flow into the space between the composite sheet 33 and the flexible waterproof sheet 34 and harden there. Such an entry of glue behind the flexible waterproof sheet 34 would locally hinder, or even eliminate, the ability of the flexible waterproof sheet 34 to deform by contraction and expansion in the non-glued portion, which would increase its fatigue and its risk of tearing. This risk of the glue thinning is particularly high in the vicinity of the corner structures used to form the angle between the vertical walls and the bottom wall of the tank to the extent that gravity there favors the flow of the glue into the assembly chimney.

[0081] Such a finishing of the glue could also rigidly and irreversibly join together, after hardening, other components of the tank wall, such as the insulating packing 132 with the ends of the rigid plates 27 or even the two corner structures 10 together.

[0082] It is understood that the anti-drip sheet 31 makes it possible to guarantee the contraction and expansion capacities of the components of the tank, in particular the flexible waterproof sheet 34, at the junction zone between neighboring corner structures.

[0083] Thus, in the assembled state of Figures 6 and 7, corresponding to the completion of the secondary waterproof membrane 6, the anti-drip sheet 31 remains permanently in the first receiving space 18 of the first corner structure 10, in the first receiving space 19 of the second corner structure 10, and straddling the two adjacent corner structures 10.

[0084] The assembly of the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 in the corner area may comprise the following steps: - installation of a first corner structure 10 and a second corner structure 10 on a supporting structure 3, adjacent to each other, so that a first receiving space 18 of the first corner structure 10 is arranged opposite a corresponding receiving space 19 of the second corner structure 10; - optionally, introduction of one end 316 of the anti-drip sheet 31 into the receiving space 18 of the first corner structure 10, if the anti-drip sheet 31 was not pre-assembled to the corner structure 10; - introduction of one end 317 of the anti-sag sheet 31 into the receiving space 19 of the second corner structure 10; - bonding the flexible waterproof sheet 35 between the panels 11 and 12, so as to cover the mounting chimney 136 and the anti-drip sheet 31.

[0085] Thanks to the presence of the anti-drip sheet 31, it is prevented that the glue applied to the panels 11 and 12 during the bonding of the flexible waterproof sheet 35 does not intrude in the gaps between the different components at the angle between panels 11 and 12.

[0086] The end 316 of the anti-sag sheet 31 may have been placed in the first receiving space 18 of the first corner structure 10 prior to the installation of the two corner structures 10 on the supporting structure, for example during the manufacture of the first corner structure 10 (pre-assembly).

[0087] Preferably, to facilitate the assembly of a row of corner structures 10, an anti-drip sheet 31 is pre-assembled to each corner structure 10, for example in the first receiving space 18, prior to installation against the supporting structure 3. Thus, the installation of the corner structures 10 in the form of a row simultaneously achieves the positioning of the anti-drip sheets 31 in the vicinity of each mounting chimney, all that remains is to slightly slide each anti-drip sheet 31 to the adjacent corner structure 10 to finalize the installation of the anti-drip sheets 31.

[0088] Alternatively, rather than pre-assembling one anti-drip sheet 31 to each corner structure 10, it is possible to pre-assemble two anti-drip sheets 31 to every other corner structure 10. The effect on the assembly time of the row of corner structures is substantially the same.

[0089] A second embodiment of the corner structure 10 will now be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9, designed for a corner area between two load-bearing walls forming an angle of 135°. Elements identical or similar to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference number as in the first embodiment and will only be described again to the extent that they differ from the first embodiment.

[0090] In the second embodiment of the corner structure 10, the angle A between the panels 11 and 12 is equal to 135°. Unlike the first embodiment, the corner structure 10 according to the second embodiment is here, without limitation, free of wooden wedges. The anti-sag sheet 31 is assembled and used in the same way as in the first embodiment.

[0091] The same arrangement can be adapted to different corner areas of the supporting structure having different angle values. For example, the angle between the panels of the corner structure can be equal to 108.4° or take other values.

[0092] At the end of the edge 301, the polyhedral-shaped supporting structure 3 may comprise a trihedron zone, not shown, where the two supporting walls and the edge 301 are interrupted by a third supporting wall which is perpendicular or oblique to them. In other words, the trihedron zone is an area where several edges of the supporting structure 3 converge. A trihedron zone is for example shown in publication WO-A-2019086790.

[0093] In a third embodiment, illustrated in [Fig. 10], the corner structure 110 is adapted to manufacture the tank wall 2 in the trihedron area. Elements identical or similar to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference number as in the first embodiment and will only be described again to the extent that they differ from the first embodiment.

[0094] For this purpose, the corner structure 110 comprises a third panel 112, comprising a stack of layers similar to the panels 11 and 12 already described.

[0095] In addition to the edge 15 at the meeting point of the planes of the flat internal faces 13 of the panels 11 and 12, the corner structure 110 here has a second edge 151 at the meeting point of the planes of the flat internal faces 13 of the panels 11 and 112, and a third edge 152 at the meeting point of the planes of the flat internal faces 13 of the panels 12 and 112. The edges 15, 151 and 152 converge at a meeting point 150. Each of the edges 15, 151 and 152 also extends to a respective end 22, 221 and 222 of the corner structure 110. Respective longitudinal directions X, Y and Z are defined by each edge 15, 151 and 152. As well as the pair of panels 11 and 12 of the corner structure 10 or 110 form a dihedron, the flat internal faces 13 of each pair of panels 11 and 112, and 12 and 112 also form two other dihedrons. A flexible waterproof sheet, not shown in [Fig.10] for the sake of readability, is glued onto strips of glue 29 provided on each of the panels 11, 12 and 112, at a distance from the edges 15, 151 and 152. A receiving space is thus respectively provided under the flexible waterproof sheet at the level of each of the edges 15, 151 and 152, accessible from the end of each of the edges 15, 151 and 152 to be able to receive each time an anti-drip sheet 31. Three anti-drip sheets 31 are shown in [Fig. 10] for illustrative but non-limiting purposes.

[0096] The trihedral type corner structure 110 may be arranged, in the tank 1, adjacent to several dihedral type corner structures 10 arranged respectively along each of the edges which compete in the trihedral zone. The receiving spaces of the corner structure 110 are then arranged opposite the corresponding receiving spaces 18 or 19 of the neighboring corner structures 10.

[0097] The technique described above for producing a tank wall can be used in different types of tanks, for example to constitute a secondary layer of an LNG tank in a land-based installation or in a floating structure such as an LNG carrier or other vessel. The assembly of the primary layer is known elsewhere and can be carried out according to known techniques.

[0098] With reference to [Fig. 11], a cutaway view of a LNG carrier 70 shows a sealed and thermally insulating tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship 70. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary sealed membrane intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary waterproof membrane arranged between the primary waterproof membrane and the double hull 72 of the ship 70, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary waterproof membrane and the secondary waterproof membrane and between the secondary waterproof membrane and the double hull 72.

[0099] 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.

[0100] [Fig. 11] shows an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipeline 76 and an onshore installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a mobile arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the mobile arm 74. The mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipelines 73. The orientable mobile arm 74 adapts to all sizes of LNG carriers. A connecting pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the onshore installation 77. The latter comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75.The subsea pipeline 76 allows the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore installation 77 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

1. Claims Corner structure (10, 110) intended for the manufacture of a sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) in a supporting structure (3), the corner structure (10, 110) comprising: - a first panel (11) made of thermally insulating material and a second panel (12) made of thermally insulating material each having a flat internal face (13) intended to be turned towards the inside of the sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) and an external face (14) intended to be turned towards the supporting structure (3); the flat internal face (13) of the first panel (11) being inclined relative to the flat internal face (13) of the second panel (12) by an angle (A) corresponding to a corner zone of the sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) to be manufactured, the flat internal face (13) of the first panel and the flat internal face (13) of the second panel forming a dihedron having an edge (15) which extends in a longitudinal direction (X) of the corner structure (10, 110); - a flexible waterproof sheet (34) arranged astride the flat internal face (13) of the first panel and the flat internal face of the second panel; in which the flat inner face (13) of the first panel comprises a first connecting zone (16) and the flat inner face (13) of the second panel comprises a second connecting zone (17), the first connecting zone (16) and the second connecting zone (17) being at a distance from said edge (15), the first connecting zone (16) being provided with an adhesion means (29) fixing the flexible waterproof sheet (34) in a sealed manner to the flat inner face (13) of the first panel, and the second connecting zone (17) being provided with an adhesion means (29) fixing the flexible waterproof sheet (34) to the flat inner face (13) of the second panel, and in which the corner structure (10, 110) comprises a receiving space (18) intended to receive an anti-drip sheet (31) at a first longitudinal end (22) of the corner structure (10, 110), the receiving space (18) being located between, on the one hand, the flexible waterproof sheet (34) and, on the other hand, the internal face (13) of the first panel and the internal face (13) of the second panel covered by the flexible waterproof sheet (34), the receiving space (18) being located astride the edge (15) between the first connecting zone and the second connecting zone (17).

2. The corner structure (10, 110) of claim 1, wherein the corner structure (10, 110) comprises an anti-drip sheet (31) disposed at least partially in said receiving space (18).

3. Corner structure (10, 110) according to claim 2, wherein the anti-drip sheet (31) is made of a flexible polymeric material, preferably vinyl.

4. Corner structure (10, 110) according to one of claims 2 to 3, in which the anti-sag sheet (31) has a degree of freedom in translation in the receiving space (18, 19), along the edge (15) of the dihedral of the corner structure.

5. Corner structure (10, 110) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the receiving space (18) is a first receiving space, and the corner structure (10, 110) comprises a second receiving space (19) intended to receive an anti-drip sheet (31) at a second longitudinal end (23) of the corner structure (10, 110) opposite the first longitudinal end (22), the second receiving space being located between, on the one hand, the flexible waterproof sheet (34) and, on the other hand, the flat internal face (13) of the first panel and the flat internal face (13) of the second panel covered by the flexible waterproof sheet (34), the second receiving space being located astride the edge (15) between the first connecting zone (16) and the second connecting zone (17).

6. Corner structure (10, 110) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adhesion means (29) of the first connecting zone (16) and / or of the second connecting zone (17) is in the form of a strip of glue (29).

7. Corner structure (10, 110) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which a wooden wedge (24) is inserted at the edge (15) of the dihedral between, on the one hand, the flexible waterproof sheet (34) and, on the other hand, the flat internal face (13) of the first panel and the flat internal face (13) of the second panel, the receiving space (18) being located between the flexible waterproof sheet (34) and the wooden wedge.

8. Corner structure (110) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the dihedral formed by the flat internal face (13) of the first panel (11) and the flat internal face (13) of the second panel (12)

9. is a first dihedron and the longitudinal direction is a first longitudinal direction (X), the corner structure further comprising a third panel (112) made of thermally insulating material, the third panel having a flat internal face (13) intended to be turned towards the inside of the sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) and an external face (14) intended to be turned towards the supporting structure (3); the flat internal face (13) of the third panel (112) interrupting the edge (15) of the first dihedron at one end of the edge (15) of the first dihedron opposite the first longitudinal end (22), the flat internal face (13) of the third panel (112) forming with the flat internal face (13) of the first panel (11) a second dihedron having an edge (151) which extends in a second longitudinal direction (Y) intersecting the first longitudinal direction,wherein the flexible waterproof sheet (34) is also arranged astride the flat inner face (13) of the third panel, the flat inner face (13) of the third panel comprising a third connecting zone (16) at a distance from the edge (151) of the second dihedron, the third connecting zone being provided with an adhesion means (29) further fixing the flexible waterproof sheet (34) in a sealed manner to the flat inner face (13) of the third panel, wherein the receiving space (18) is a first receiving space, the corner structure (110) comprising a second receiving space intended to receive an anti-drip sheet (31) at one end (221) of the corner structure (110) in the second longitudinal direction, the second receiving space (18) being located between, on the one hand, the flexible waterproof sheet (34) and, on the other hand,the internal face (13) of the first panel and the internal face (13) of the third panel (112) covered by the flexible waterproof sheet (34), the second receiving space (18) being located astride the edge (151) of the second dihedron between the first connecting zone and the third connecting zone., Sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) intended to be integrated into a supporting structure (3), the sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) comprising a first corner structure (10, 110) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and a second corner structure (10, 110) according to one of claims 1 to 7, the first and second corner structures (10, 110) being installed along of an edge (301) of the supporting structure (3) so as to delimit a mounting chimney (136) between the first and second corner structures (10, 110), a receiving space (18) of the first corner structure (10, 110) being arranged opposite a receiving space (19) of the second corner structure (10, 110), an anti-drip sheet (31) having a first end portion (310) engaged in the receiving space (18) of the first corner structure (10, 110) and a second end portion (313) engaged in the receiving space (19) of the second corner structure (10, 110), said anti-drip sheet (31) having an intermediate portion (312) extending through the mounting chimney (136).

10. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 9, wherein the anti-drip sheet (31) comprises a positioning aid means (314) delimiting the intermediate portion (312) of the anti-drip sheet (31).

11. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a sealed joining sheet (35) is glued astride the flexible sealed sheet (34) of the first corner structure (10, 110) and the flexible sealed sheet (34) of the second corner structure (10, 110) so as to cover the mounting chimney (136) and the intermediate portion (312) of the anti-drip sheet (31).

12. Vessel (70) for transporting a cold liquid product, the vessel comprising a double hull (72) and a sealed and thermally insulating tank (71) according to one of claims 9 to 11 arranged in the double hull.

13. A transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising a vessel (70) according to claim 12, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the sealed and thermally insulating tank (71) of the vessel to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the tank of the vessel.

14. A method of loading or unloading a ship (70), in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to an installation floating or land-based storage (77) to or from the sealed and thermally insulating tank (71) of the ship (70) according to claim 12.

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