Watertight and thermally insulated tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a watertight and thermally insulating tank (1) comprising at least a first tank wall (201) and a second tank wall (202) meeting at a corner area, and comprising a first corner structure (11) and a second corner structure (12) each comprising: - a first secondary insulating panel (13) and a second secondary insulating panel (14), - a flexible waterproof sheet (7), in which the first corner structure (11) also comprises: - a plurality of primary main corner assemblies bonded to the flexible waterproof sheet (7), and comprising a first primary main insulating block (21) and a second primary main insulating block (22), - shims (20) filling the inter-primary panel space (30), in which the tank comprises a primary joining corner assembly (34) fixed straddling the first and second corner structures,which comprises a first and a second primary insulating junction block having a dimension in the first direction greater than, respectively, the first and second main primary insulating blocks. Figure for the abbreviation: 5,

Description

Title of the invention: Watertight and thermally insulating tank technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of leak-proof and thermally insulated membrane tanks. In particular, the invention relates to the field of leak-proof and thermally insulated tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquefied gases at low temperatures, such as tanks for transporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG) at temperatures ranging, for example, from -50°C to 0°C, or for transporting 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 used for transporting liquefied gas or for receiving liquefied gas to serve as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure. Technological background

[0002] Corner structures for watertight and thermally insulated tanks are known from document KR20040095782. Each of these corner structures comprises a first secondary insulating panel of a first tank wall and a second secondary insulating panel of a second tank wall, which are intended to form the corner of a secondary thermally insulating barrier and are joined together. These secondary insulating panels are equipped with a waterproof composite membrane which, together with other waterproof membranes, forms the corner of a secondary waterproof membrane.

[0003] To form the primary thermally insulating barrier, primary corner assemblies are fixed to the secondary waterproof membrane and consist of a primary insulating block fixed above a secondary insulating panel of the first tank wall and another primary insulating block fixed above a secondary insulating panel of the second tank wall. The two primary insulating blocks are fixed to each other using a metal angle bracket.

[0004] Two adjacent corner structures are separated from each other by a secondary inter-panel gap. A primary corner joining assembly is fixed straddling two adjacent secondary corner assemblies in a housing formed between two primary corner assemblies so as to be located directly above the secondary inter-panel gap. The primary corner joining assemblies and the primary corner assemblies are made identically. Summary of the invention

[0005] The applicant observed that if the housing for the primary corner joint assembly is not centered on the secondary inter-panel space, there is a risk of the primary corner joint assembly detaching due to an imbalance in the bonding of the primary corner joint assembly to the corner structures. Tears are also observed in the secondary waterproofing membrane.

[0006] One idea underlying the invention is to improve the design of the tank corner area to prevent the risks of detachment of the primary corner junction assemblies or tearing of the secondary sealing membrane.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage of liquefied gas and intended to be integrated into a supporting structure, in which the tank comprises at least a first tank wall and a second tank wall extending respectively along a first plane and a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being inclined to each other at a tank angle and intersecting at an edge, the first tank wall and the second tank wall meeting at a corner area, the tank comprising, in a wall thickness direction from the outside to an internal space of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier intended to be supported by the supporting structure, a secondary sealed membrane supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier supported by the secondary sealed membrane,and a primary waterproof membrane supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with a liquefied gas, wherein the corner area comprises a first corner structure and a second corner structure separated from the first corner structure by a secondary interpanel space in a first direction parallel to the edge, wherein each of the first and second corner structures comprises: - a first secondary insulating panel and a second secondary insulating panel, each having a flat internal surface, the flat internal surface of the first secondary insulating panel being parallel to the first plane and the flat internal surface of the second secondary insulating panel being parallel to the second plane, - a flexible waterproof sheet disposed over the flat internal surface of the first secondary insulating panel and the flat internal surface of the second secondary insulating panel,in which the first corner structure also includes: , - a plurality of primary corner assemblies bonded to the flexible waterproof sheet, the primary corner assemblies being spaced from each other in the first direction by a primary inter-panel space, each set of primary corner comprising a first primary insulating block located above the first secondary insulating panel, and a second primary insulating block located above the second secondary insulating panel, - wedges, preferably made of foam, filling the primary inter-panel space, in which the tank includes a primary corner joint assembly fixed straddling first and second adjacent corner structures so as to be situated above the secondary inter-panel space, the primary corner joint assembly comprising a first primary insulating joint block situated above the first secondary insulating panels of the first and second adjacent corner structures and a second primary insulating joint block situated above the second secondary insulating panels of the first and second adjacent corner structures, the first and second primary insulating joint blocks having a dimension in the first direction greater respectively than the first and second primary insulating blocks of the first corner structure.

[0008] Thanks to these characteristics, the larger size of the primary corner joint insulation blocks compared to the main primary insulation blocks compensates for any misalignment of the housing receiving the primary corner joint assembly relative to the secondary inter-panel space. This ensures sufficient bonding of the primary corner joint insulation blocks on both sides of the secondary inter-panel space, thus guaranteeing a stable fixing.

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

[0010] According to one embodiment, the first and second secondary insulating panels each comprise, stacked from the outside towards an internal space of the tank, a base plate, an insulating foam block, and a cover plate, a composite waterproof sheet being glued onto the cover plate.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first and second secondary insulating panels form part of the secondary thermally insulating barrier, the composite waterproofing mat and the flexible waterproofing sheet forming part of the secondary waterproofing membrane.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the plurality of principal primary angle sets of the first angle structure comprises an end principal primary angle set, and the second angle structure comprises a trihedral primary angle set comprising a first trihedral primary insulating block and a second trihedral primary insulating block, the first and second principal primary insulating blocks of the end principal primary angle set being respectively distant from the first and second trihedral primary insulating blocks in the first direction by a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance being greater than the dimension of the first and second main primary insulating blocks of the main end primary angle assembly in the first direction so as to allow the junction primary angle assembly to be housed between the main end primary angle assembly and the trihedral primary angle assembly.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the predetermined distance is equal to the sum of the dimension of a first main primary insulating block in the first direction and twice the dimension of a wedge in the first direction, the first main primary insulating block being identical to the second main primary insulating block.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the dimension of the first and second primary insulating junction blocks in the first direction is equal to the sum of the dimensions of a first main primary insulating block in the first direction and the dimension of a wedge in the first direction.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the first and second primary insulating blocks of the primary end corner assembly are separated from the secondary inter-panel space in the first direction by a first distance, and the first and second primary insulating blocks of the trihedron are separated from the secondary inter-panel space in the first direction by a second distance, the predetermined distance being equal to the sum of the first distance, the second distance and the dimension of the secondary inter-panel space in the first direction, the first distance being different from the second distance.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the first distance is less than the second distance, the first and second primary insulating junction blocks being located against respectively the first and second primary insulating main blocks of the main end primary corner assembly, and the first and second primary insulating junction blocks being spaced from the first and second primary insulating trihedral blocks by a wedge.

[0017] Thus, there is no spacer between the first and second primary junction insulating blocks and the first and second main primary insulating blocks of the main end corner assembly. In other words, the first and second primary junction insulating blocks and the first and second main primary insulating blocks of the main end corner assembly are in direct contact.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the sealed and thermally insulating tank comprises a sealing joint sheet glued over the flexible sealing sheet of the first corner structure and over the flexible sealing sheet of the second corner structure so as to cover the secondary inter-panel space, the first and second primary insulating joint blocks being glued to the sealing joint sheet.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the tank angle is a first tank angle and the edge is a first edge and wherein the tank includes a third tank wall extending along a third plane, the third plane and the first plane being intersecting at a second edge and the third plane being inclined with respect to the first plane along a second tank angle, the third plane and the second plane being intersecting at a third edge and the third plane being inclined with respect to the second plane along a third tank angle, an intersection between the first tank wall, the second tank wall and the third tank wall being made at a corner area so as to form a trihedron, the second corner structure being located at the corner area.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the second angle of the tank is greater than 180°, preferably equal to 270°.

[0021] The angle measurement is taken from inside the tank.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the first tank angle and / or the third tank angle is equal to 90°.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the second corner structure comprises a third secondary insulating panel having a flat internal surface, the flat internal surface of the third secondary insulating panel being parallel to the third plane.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the insulating foam blocks of the first and second secondary insulating panels form part of the secondary thermally insulating barrier, the composite waterproofing mat and the flexible waterproofing sheet form part of the secondary waterproofing membrane, the first and second primary insulating blocks form part of the primary thermally insulating barrier.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the main primary corner assemblies each comprise a metal angle fixed to both the first primary insulating block and the second primary insulating block, the metal angle forming part of the primary waterproof membrane.

[0026] Such a tank can be part of an onshore storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or be installed in a floating structure, whether coastal or deep-water, including an LNG carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and storage unit (FPSO), and others. Such a tank can also serve as a fuel tank in any type of ship.

[0027] According to one embodiment, a ship for the transport of a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and the aforementioned tank disposed in the double hull.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged to connect the tank installed in the double hull of the vessel to a floating or land-based storage facility and a pump to drive a flow of cold liquid product through insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the ship's tank.

[0029] 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 tank of the aforementioned ship. Brief description of the figures

[0030] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of two adjacent corner structures at a corner area of ​​a sealed and thermally insulating tank, before assembly of a primary corner joining assembly.

[0032] The [Fig.2] is a schematic exploded view of a principal primary angle assembly.

[0033] Figure 3 represents a perspective view of two corner structures adjacent to the level of a corner area, after assembly of the primary corner joint assembly according to an embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of a primary insulating junction block belonging to a primary junction corner assembly according to one embodiment.

[0035] Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of two adjacent corner structures at a corner area, after mounting an end primary corner assembly adjacent to the junction primary corner assembly.

[0036] Figure 6 is a schematic cutaway representation of an LNG carrier comprising a tank and a loading / unloading terminal for this tank. Description of embodiments

[0037] Figures 1, 3, and 5 illustrate a portion of a sealed and thermally insulated tank 1 in a corner area at the intersection of three tank walls forming a trihedral shape. This tank 1 is a membrane tank for storing liquefied gas. The tank 1 has a plurality of tank walls resting against a polyhedral supporting structure. More specifically, the tank 1 is integrated into the supporting structure of a vessel as shown in [Fig. 6].

[0038] In the present description, the terms "interior", "top" and "exterior", "bottom" are to be understood as describing a relative position with respect to an interior, respectively an exterior of the tank 1.

[0039] More specifically, the tank 1 comprises a first tank wall 201 extending along a first plane, a second tank wall 202 extending along a second plane, and a third tank wall 203 extending along a third plane. The first and second planes are inclined to each other at a first tank angle, which in the example shown is equal to 90°, and intersect at a first edge 301. The first tank wall 201 and the second tank wall 202 meet at a corner area.

[0040] Similarly, the first and third planes are inclined relative to each other by a second tank angle, which in the example shown is equal to 270°, and intersect at a second edge 302. The angle is measured from the inside of the tank. This type of angle is encountered in particular at the liquid dome of tank 1.

[0041] The second plane and the third plane are inclined relative to each other by a third angle of the tank, which in the example shown is equal to 90°, and intersecting at the level of a third edge.

[0042] A junction between the first tank wall 201, the second tank wall 202 and the third tank wall 203 is made at a corner area 1000 so as to form a trihedron.

[0043] Each tank wall 201-203 has a multilayer structure which includes a secondary thermally insulating barrier 4 comprising modular insulating elements, and a secondary waterproof membrane 5, which includes various elements assembled by bonding, including here composite waterproof sheets 6, flexible waterproof sheets 7 and joint waterproof sheets 8. The secondary waterproof membrane 5 is disposed against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 4 and is waterproof to liquids and gases.

[0044] The multilayer structure also includes a primary thermally insulating barrier 9 comprising modular insulating elements, and a primary airtight membrane (not shown). The primary airtight membrane is intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank 1. The primary thermally insulating barrier 9 is here positioned against the secondary airtight membrane 5.

[0045] In practice, the secondary thermally insulating barrier 4, the secondary waterproof membrane 5, and the primary thermally insulating barrier 9 can be implemented as a plurality of prefabricated, flat structures placed side-by-side on the load-bearing walls and a plurality of prefabricated corner structures 11 placed side-by-side along the corner areas. The general geometry of these prefabricated structures is described, for example, in publication FR-A-2691520.

[0046] The primary airtight membrane covers the primary thermally insulating barrier 9 and defines an internal space intended to receive the liquefied gas. For example, It may be a corrugated stainless steel metal membrane, notably described in publications WO-A-2010040922 or FR-A-2861060.

[0047] The liquefied gas intended for storage in tank 1 may, in particular, be liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is to say, a gaseous mixture consisting mainly of methane and one or more other hydrocarbons. The liquefied gas may also be ethane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), that is to say, a mixture of hydrocarbons from petroleum refining consisting essentially of propane and butane.

[0048] With reference to figures 1, 3 and 5, we will now describe in more detail a prefabricated corner structure 11 according to one embodiment, which can be used at the level of a corner area, as well as a particular corner structure, namely a prefabricated trihedral structure 12 according to one embodiment, arranged at the level of the corner area 1000. As can be seen in these figures, the corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 shown are spaced, in a first direction parallel to the first edge 301, by a secondary inter-panel space 10.

[0049] The corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 each comprise, at the level of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 4, a first insulating panel 13 located on the first tank wall and a second insulating panel 14 located on the second tank wall. Each insulating panel 13 and 14 comprises, stacked from the outside in: a rigid base plate 15, a polymer foam block 16, a rigid lid plate 17, and the composite sealing membrane 6.

[0050] The composite waterproof sheet 6 of each of the insulating panels 13 and 14 forms a flat internal surface, intended to be turned towards the interior of the tank 1, and the rigid bottom plate 15 forms an external surface, intended to be turned towards the supporting structure.

[0051] The flat inner surface of the first insulating panel 13 is inclined relative to the flat inner surface of the second insulating panel 14 at the first angle of the tank, here equal to 90°, corresponding to a sealed and thermally insulated corner zone of the tank. The flat inner surface of the first insulating panel 13 and the flat inner surface of the second insulating panel 14 are thus located at a dihedral angle. The first edge extends along the first direction. The corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 further comprise a flexible, sealed sheet 7.

[0052] For each insulating panel 13 and 14, the rigid base plate 15, the polymer foam block 16, and the rigid cover plate 17 of the secondary thermal insulating barrier 4 are stacked in that order from the outside in. The rigid plates 15 and 17 are preferably plywood plates. These provide a certain rigidity, and therefore good mechanical strength, to the secondary thermal insulating barrier 4.

[0053] The composite waterproofing membrane 6 forms part of the secondary waterproofing membrane 5 and constitutes the flat inner surface of each of the first and second panels 13 and 14, respectively, as shown in [Fig. 3]. Each composite waterproofing membrane 6 is positioned on the rigid cover plate 17 of the corresponding insulating panel 13 or 14. The composite waterproofing membrane 6 may be made of a laminated composite material comprising an aluminum layer between two layers of glass fibers and resin.

[0054] The flexible waterproof sheet 7 is bonded across the flat inner surface of the first insulating panel 13 and the flat inner surface of the second insulating panel 14. The flexible waterproof sheet 7 may be made of a laminated composite material comprising an aluminum layer between two layers of glass fibers. The flexible waterproof sheet 7 provides continuity with the secondary waterproof membrane 5 at the first edge 301.

[0055] To ensure the continuity of the secondary insulation barrier 4, an insulating joint 35 is positioned in the secondary inter-panel space 10 located between two adjacent insulating panels belonging to the same tank wall. Thus, the insulating joint 35 is located between an insulating panel of the corner structure 11 and an insulating panel of the trihedral structure 12. As shown in [Fig. 1], a sealing joint sheet 8 is bonded, directly above the insulating joint 35, straddling the corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 to complete the secondary sealing membrane 5. The sealing joint sheet 8 is thus bonded to the composite sealing sheets 6 and to the flexible sealing sheet 7 of each of the corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 so as to cover the secondary inter-panel space 10 and the insulating joint 35.

[0056] Furthermore, as can be seen in [Fig.1], the corner structure 11 comprises primary corner assemblies 19 mounted above the flexible waterproof sheet 7 to form elements of the primary thermally insulating barrier 9 and the primary waterproof membrane in the corner area.

[0057] The primary corner assemblies 19 are aligned and spaced from each other by a primary inter-panel space 30 in the first direction on the first and second insulating panels 13, 14. The primary inter-panel spaces 30 between these primary corner assemblies 19 are filled using insulating foam shims 20.

[0058] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a primary corner assembly 19. The primary corner assembly 19 comprises a primary insulating block 21 located in the first plane of the first tank wall 201 and a second primary insulating block 22 located in the second plane of the second tank wall 202.

[0059] The primary insulating blocks 21, 22 each comprise an outer face fixed to the secondary waterproof membrane 5 and an inner face. The primary corner assembly 19 comprises a metal angle bracket 23 having a first part fixed to the inner face of the first primary insulating block 21 and a second part fixed to the inner face of the second primary insulating block 22.

[0060] The main primary insulating blocks 21, 22 include fixing holes 24. The metal angle bracket 23 has protruding fixing devices 25 on the surface facing said main primary insulating blocks 21, 22. The fixing devices 25 are configured to be fixed inside the fixing holes 24. In the case of a parallelepiped-shaped insulating block, the main primary corner assembly 19 also includes a corner wedge 26 made of insulating material located between the two main primary insulating blocks 21, 22 and against the flexible waterproof sheet 7. The corner wedge 26 allows for continuity of the insulation where the orientation of the insulation is changed.

[0061] The trihedral structure 12 is also shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. Compared to the corner structure 11, the trihedral structure 12 extends over each of the first, second and third tank walls 201-203. Therefore, in addition to a first insulating panel 13 and a second insulating panel 14, the trihedral structure includes a third insulating panel 27 located on the third tank wall 203, the third insulating panel 27 having the same structure as the insulating panels 13, 14.

[0062] Analogously to the corner structure 11, the trihedral structure 12 comprises a primary trihedral corner assembly 28 which includes a first primary trihedral insulating block 32 and a second primary trihedral insulating block 33, and which is mounted above the flexible waterproof sheet 7 to form elements of the primary thermally insulating barrier 9. A metal angle bracket is fixed to the primary trihedral corner assembly 28 to complete the primary waterproof membrane in the corner area 1000. The trihedral structure 12 also includes a primary corner corner assembly 29, located at the intersection between the first, second and third edges 301-302, and having a shape adapted to this intersection.

[0063] Among the main primary corner assemblies, the corner structure 11 includes a main end primary corner assembly 31 which is located near the secondary inter-panel space 10. The main end primary corner assembly 31 is not shown in Figures 1 and 3, because it is assembled, in an advantageous assembly method, after a joining primary corner assembly 34.

[0064] The first and second main primary insulating blocks of the main primary end corner assembly 31 are respectively distant from the first and second primary insulating blocks of trihedral shape 32, 33 in the first direction at a predetermined distance so as to form a housing 38. This predetermined distance is advantageously equal to the sum of the dimension of a first main primary insulating block 21 in the first direction and twice the dimension of a foam wedge 20 in the first direction, in an embodiment where the first main primary insulating block 21 is identical to the second main primary insulating block 22.

[0065] The tank 1 further comprises a primary corner joint assembly 34, illustrated in particular in [Fig.3], fixed straddling the corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 so as to be located above the secondary inter-panel space 10 and to be glued onto the sealing joint sheet 8.

[0066] The primary corner joint assembly 34 comprises a first primary insulating joint block 36 located above the first insulating panels 13 of the corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 and a second primary insulating joint block 37 located above the second insulating panels 14 of the corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12.

[0067] In the case where the housing 38 is not centered on the secondary inter-panel space 10, as seen in figures 1, 3 and 5, the first and second primary insulating junction blocks 36, 37 may not be bonded in a balanced manner to the corner structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12, which may lead to detachment of the primary corner junction assembly 34.

[0068] Indeed, as can be seen in [Fig. 5], the first and second main primary insulating blocks of the main primary corner assembly of end 31 are separated from the secondary inter-panel space 10 in the first direction by a first distance D1, and the first and second primary insulating blocks of trihedral 32, 33 are separated from the secondary inter-panel space 10 in the first direction by a second distance D2. The first distance D1 is here less than the second distance D2.

[0069] This is why the first and second primary insulating junction blocks 36, 37 have different dimensions from the first and second main primary insulating blocks 21, 22, as can be seen in particular in figures 3 and 4. Indeed, in the example shown in these figures, the dimension of the first and second primary insulating junction blocks 36, 37 in the first direction is equal to the sum of the dimensions of a first main primary insulating block 21 in the first direction and the dimension of a foam wedge 20 in the first direction.

[0070] It is thus possible to increase the bonding surface located on the corner structure 11 by removing the foam wedge 20 located between the first and second blocks primary junction insulators 36, 37 and the first and second main primary insulating blocks of the main end primary corner assembly 31.

[0071] The first and second primary insulating junction blocks 36, 37 are thus located against respectively the first and second main primary insulating blocks of the main primary end corner assembly 31.

[0072] In addition, to control the proper bonding of the first and second primary insulating junction blocks 36, 37, the main primary end corner assembly 31 is bonded after the primary junction corner assembly 34.

[0073] Figure 4 shows more particularly the design of one of the first or Second primary insulating junction blocks 36, 37. Their design combines both the shape of a main primary insulating block 21, 22 with the shape of an insulating foam wedge 20. The metal angle 23 of the primary junction corner assembly 34 is identical to that of a main primary corner assembly 19. Indeed, along the first direction, the metal angle 23 of the primary junction corner assembly 34 is shorter than the first and second primary insulating junction blocks 36, 37.

[0074] As shown in [Fig.2], the metal angles 23 have reinforcing wings 39 at their lateral ends which, in the case of a main primary angle assembly 19, are located on either side of the main primary insulating blocks 21, 22, the foam wedges 20 having cutouts to accommodate them.

[0075] To receive the angle of the primary corner assembly of joining 34, the first and second primary insulating blocks of joining 36, 37 therefore have two grooves 40 allowing to accommodate on the one hand a reinforcing wing 39 of the metal angle 23 of the primary corner assembly of joining 34 and on the other hand a reinforcing wing 39 of the metal angle 23 of the main primary corner assembly of end 31.

[0076] Fig. 5 thus represents the angle structure 11 and the trihedral structure 12 after gluing the primary junction angle assembly 34 and then the main primary end angle assembly 31.

[0077] With reference to [Fig.6], a cutaway view of a methane tanker 70 shows a sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship 70. The wall of the tank 1 comprises a primary sealed membrane intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealed membrane arranged between the primary sealed membrane and the double hull 72 of the ship 70, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary sealed membrane and the secondary sealed membrane and between the secondary sealed membrane and the double hull 72.

[0078] In a manner known per se, loading / unloading pipelines 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of suitable connectors, to a marine or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 1.

[0079] Figure 6 shows an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading berth 75, a subsea pipeline 76, and an onshore installation 77. The loading and unloading berth 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 that supports the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 that can be connected to the loading / unloading pipelines 73. The steerable movable arm 74 adapts to all LNG carrier sizes. An unshown connecting pipeline extends inside tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the onshore facility 77. This facility includes liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipelines 81 linked by the subsea pipeline 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 facility 77 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which allows the LNG carrier 70 to be kept a long distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0080] To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps equipping the land installation 77 and / or pumps equipping the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

[0081] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is clearly evident that it is by no means limited to them and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0082] The use of the verb "comprise", "comprendre" or "include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those stated in a claim.

[0083] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses shall not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

1. Demands A sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage of liquefied gas, intended to be integrated into a supporting structure, in which the tank comprises at least a first tank wall (201) and a second tank wall (202) extending respectively along a first plane and a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being inclined to each other at a tank angle and intersecting at an edge (301), the first tank wall (201) and the second tank wall (202) meeting at a corner area, the tank comprising, in a wall thickness direction from the outside to an internal space of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier intended to be supported by the supporting structure, a secondary sealed membrane supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, and a primary thermally insulating barrier supported by the secondary sealed membrane.and a primary waterproof membrane supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with a liquefied gas, in which the corner area comprises a first corner structure (11) and a second corner structure (12) separated from the first corner structure (11) by a secondary inter-panel space (10) in a first direction parallel to the edge, in which each of the first and second corner structures (11, 12) comprises:, - a first secondary insulating panel (13) and a second secondary insulating panel (14), each having a flat internal surface, the flat internal surface of the first secondary insulating panel (13) being parallel to the first plane and the flat internal surface of the second secondary insulating panel (14) being parallel to the second plane, - a flexible waterproof sheet (7) arranged straddling the flat internal surface of the first secondary insulating panel (13) and the flat internal surface of the second secondary insulating panel (14), in which the first corner structure (11) also comprises: - a plurality of primary corner assemblies (19) bonded to the flexible waterproof sheet (7), the primary corner assemblies main (19) being spaced from each other in the first direction by a primary inter-panel space (30), each main primary corner assembly (19) comprising a first main primary insulating block (21) located above the first secondary insulating panel (13), and a second main primary insulating block (22) located above the second secondary insulating panel (14), - shims, preferably of foam, (20) filling the primary inter-panel space (30), in which the tank comprises a junction primary corner assembly (34) fixed straddling first and second adjacent corner structures so as to be located above the secondary inter-panel space (10),the primary corner joint assembly (34) comprising a first primary insulating joint block (36) located above the first secondary insulating panels of the first and second adjacent corner structures and a second primary insulating joint block (37) located above the second secondary insulating panels of the first and second adjacent corner structures, the first and second primary insulating joint blocks having a dimension in the first direction greater respectively than the first and second primary insulating blocks of the first corner structure (11).

2. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein the dimension of the first and second primary insulating junction blocks in the first direction is equal to the sum of the dimensions of a first main primary insulating block (21) in the first direction and the dimension of a wedge (20) in the first direction.

3. A watertight and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of principal primary corner assemblies of the first corner structure (11) comprises an end principal primary corner assembly (31), and the second corner structure (12) comprises a trihedral primary corner assembly (28) comprising a first trihedral primary insulating block (32) and a second trihedral primary insulating block (33), the first and second principal primary insulating blocks of the end principal primary corner assembly (31) being respectively distant from the first and second primary insulating blocks of trihedron in the first direction of a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance being greater than the dimension of the first and second principal primary insulating blocks of the principal end primary angle set in the first direction so as to allow the junction primary angle set (34) to be housed between the principal end primary angle set (31) and the trihedral primary angle set (28).

4. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined distance is equal to the sum of the dimension of a first main primary insulating block (21) in the first direction and twice the dimension of a wedge (20) in the first direction, the first main primary insulating block (21) being identical to the second main primary insulating block (22).

5. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the first and second primary insulating blocks of the primary end corner assembly (31) are separated from the secondary inter-panel space in the first direction by a first distance, and the first and second primary insulating blocks of the trihedral angle are separated from the secondary inter-panel space in the first direction by a second distance, the predetermined distance being equal to the sum of the first distance, the second distance and the dimension of the secondary inter-panel space in the first direction, the first distance being different from the second distance.

6. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 5, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance, the first and second primary insulating junction blocks being located against the first and second primary insulating blocks of the main primary end corner assembly (31) respectively, and the first and second primary insulating junction blocks being spaced from the first and second primary insulating blocks of the trihedral end assembly by a spacer (20).

7. A watertight and thermally insulating tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the watertight and thermally insulating tank (1) comprises a sealing joint sheet (8) bonded across the flexible sealing sheet (7) of the first corner structure (11) and the flexible sealing sheet (7) of the second corner structure (12) so as to cover the secondary inter-panel space, the first and second primary insulating junction blocks being glued to the sealing junction sheet (8).

8. A watertight and thermally insulating tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tank angle is a first tank angle, the edge is a first edge, and the second corner structure (12) is a trihedral structure, and wherein the tank comprises a third tank wall (203) extending along a third plane, the third plane and the first plane intersecting at a second edge and the third plane being inclined with respect to the first plane along a second tank angle, an intersection between the first tank wall (201), the second tank wall (202), and the third tank wall (203) being made at a corner area so as to form a trihedral shape, the second corner structure (12) being located at the area corner.

9. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second tank angle is greater than 180°.

10. A sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the second corner structure (12) comprises a third secondary insulating panel (27) having a flat internal surface, the flat internal surface of the third secondary insulating panel (27) being parallel to the third plane.

11. Vessel (70) for the transport of a cold liquid product, the vessel comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 disposed in the double hull.

12. Transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising a vessel (70) according to claim 11, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the tank (1) installed in the double hull of the vessel to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) and a pump to drive a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the vessel tank. 18

13. A method of loading or unloading a ship (70), wherein a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) to or from the tank (1) of the ship (70) according to claim 11.