Cryogenic fluid loading and / or unloading tower

Abstract

Title of the invention: Cryogenic fluid loading and / or unloading tower. The present invention relates to a loading and / or unloading tower (6), comprising a base (14), the base (14) comprising a main plate (16) and at least one support (24), the loading and / or unloading tower (6) comprising a guiding device (26) connected to the support (24) of the base (14), the guiding device (26) comprising a receiving plate (28) configured to receive a pad (30), the base (14) comprising at least two receiving ports (48) configured to receive an installation system (38) for the guiding device (26), the two receiving ports (48) being spaced apart by a distance greater than a main dimension of the receiving plate (28) configured to receive the pad (30) measured parallel to the main plate (16) of the base. (14). Figure of the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Cryogenic fluid loading and / or unloading tower

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of cryogenic fluids such as liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, ethane, ammonia or hydrogen, and more particularly to the problems related to their loading and unloading resulting from their transport.

[0002] Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is an important energy source composed primarily of methane. Liquefied natural gas is generally stored in a liquid state at a temperature close to -160 °C, occupying 1 / 600th of the volume it would occupy in its gaseous state. This facilitates the transport of the liquefied natural gas between an extraction site and a destination site. For and during transport, the liquefied natural gas is stored in sealed, thermally insulated tanks. Such tanks can be installed on land or on a floating structure.

[0003] In order to load and unload the tanks in which liquefied natural gas is stored, loading and / or unloading towers are installed within them. The loading and / or unloading towers may be mobile devices, but in the case of LNG carrier tanks, they are generally fixed directly to the tank. The tank then includes an opening at the top configured to receive the loading and / or unloading tower, the latter having several masts extending the full height of the tank. A base is fixed to the bottom of the tank, on which the loading and / or unloading tower is positioned to allow the loading and unloading of the liquefied natural gas.

[0004] During the loading and unloading of the tank, significant temperature variations due to the change from the storage temperature of methane in its liquid state to ambient temperature can alter the materials used in the loading and / or unloading tower. Alteration of the materials means that they can expand or contract according to temperature variations. It is therefore necessary for the loading and / or unloading tower to be able to move vertically on its base to accommodate these material changes, such vertical movement being understood to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the tank.

[0005] It is known to use buffers or pads that allow vertical translational mobility of the loading and / or unloading tower while restricting its movements in planes parallel to the bottom of the tank. Such The buffers are supported by buffer brackets, which are guide devices fixed under the tower and positioned opposite the base so they can slide along it. However, installing and mounting the buffer brackets is a complicated process.

[0006] Indeed, the installation of buffer supports generally requires the use of jacks, which are placed on an insulating membrane of the storage tank. However, even with interposed protection between the jacks and the insulating membrane, such as protective boards, it is common for this insulating membrane to be damaged due to the significant pressure generated by the jacks. The pressure from the jacks can, for example, cause deformation of the insulating membrane, requiring its removal and subsequent replacement.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by proposing a loading and / or unloading tower in which the installation of the buffer supports does not damage the membrane of the storage tank, this installation involving a removable system allowing in particular to raise the cylinders relative to the membrane.

[0008] The main object of the present invention is a loading and / or unloading tower configured for loading and / or unloading cryogenic fluid into / from a storage tank, comprising a plurality of masts and a base connecting the masts together, the base comprising a main plate connected to at least one of the masts and at least one support extending in a plane intersecting that of the main plate, the loading and / or unloading tower comprising at least one guide device connected to the support of the base and configured to come into contact with a base integral with a bottom of the storage tank, the guide device comprising a receiving plate configured to receive a buffer, the base comprising at least two receiving ports configured to receive an installation system for the guide device,the two receiving ports being spaced apart by a distance greater than a principal dimension of the receiving plate configured to receive the buffer.

[0009] The loading and / or unloading tower according to the invention is configured to operate, as appropriate, the filling of a storage tank with cryogenic fluid or its emptying. This cryogenic fluid is, for example, liquefied natural gas or LNG. Within the loading and / or unloading tower, the base corresponds to a framework that connects the masts to one another. This base has a main plate, which extends substantially perpendicularly to a main extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower. The masts extend mainly from one side of the main plate, while a The support extends from a second side of the main plate opposite the first. The first side of the main plate is oriented towards a cover of the storage tank in which the loading and / or unloading tower is intended to be installed, while the second side of this main plate is oriented towards a bottom wall of the storage tank.

[0010] The loading and / or unloading tower includes at least one guiding device. Preferably, the loading and / or unloading tower includes a plurality of guiding devices distributed within the base. The guiding device is integral with the base; more precisely, the guiding device is welded to the base support.

[0011] The guidance device is a buffer-carrying device. For this purpose, it comprises a buffer receiving plate onto which the buffer is placed or into which it is inserted. The guidance device forms an interface between the cryogenic fluid loading and / or unloading tower on the one hand and a base of the storage tank on the other. The guidance device contributes to the installation of the loading and / or unloading tower relative to the base. Thus, the guidance device allows movement of the loading and / or unloading tower along its principal extension direction, the guidance device blocking at least part of the loading and / or unloading tower in a plane substantially perpendicular to the principal extension direction.

[0012] Mounting the guide device onto the base support requires applying significant pressure to this guide device, possibly using an installation system. According to the invention, the base includes receiving ports for this installation system. This allows the installation system to be suspended from the base, with the installation system thus positioned away from the bottom wall of the storage tank so as not to damage it during the application of the pressure required to mount the guide device.

[0013] To this end, the receiving ports are spaced apart by a distance greater than the length of the receiving plate, that is, its main dimension measured between its two shorter sides, advantageously perpendicular to one of the shorter sides. The length of the receiving plate is, for example, approximately 350 millimeters, that is, 350 millimeters plus or minus 10 millimeters. The receiving ports are spaced apart by a distance less than a value corresponding to the sum of the main dimension of the receiving plate and a margin of between 20 and 300 millimeters. The distance between the receiving ports is measured between the axes of these receiving ports and parallel to the main plate of the base.

[0014] According to an optional feature of the invention, the receiving ports are provided in the main plate of the base.

[0015] This is a first embodiment in which the receiving ports are provided so as to pass through the main plate of the base from its first side to its second side.

[0016] According to an optional feature of the invention, the receiving ports are provided in the support of the base carrying the guiding device.

[0017] This is a second embodiment. The support for the guide device consists of a side plate, to which the guide device is attached, and reinforcements extending on either side of this side plate, which help to secure it to the main plate of the base. The reinforcements extend, for example, perpendicularly to the side plate. The receiving holes are provided in the reinforcements.

[0018] According to an optional feature of the invention, the guiding device includes a buffer disposed against the receiving plate.

[0019] This buffer, or pad, is a protective element that absorbs potential shocks during the movement of the guide device towards the base. The buffer is configured to allow movement of the loading and / or unloading tower along its main extension direction but to prevent movement of this loading and / or unloading tower in at least one direction perpendicular to the main extension direction. The presence of multiple guide devices, each equipped with a buffer, makes it possible to block the movement of the loading and / or unloading tower in all directions of a plane perpendicular to its main extension direction.

[0020] The receiving plate of the buffer is for example made of stainless steel while the buffer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE.

[0021] When the buffer is placed against the receiving plate, the loading and / or loading tower is in an installed configuration.

[0022] According to an optional feature of the invention, the loading and / or unloading tower includes the pad installation system, this installation system comprising a base and at least two hook arms attached to the base, the hook arms being intended to cooperate with the receiving ports of the base.

[0023] This refers to a configuration for installing the loading and / or unloading tower, in which the installation system is associated with it. The installation system is used to position the loading and / or unloading tower within the storage tank but is not intended to remain permanently within this storage tank.

[0024] Here, "cooperate" means that the hook arms are connected to the receiving ports either directly, i.e., they pass through these receiving ports, or indirectly, i.e., through a fastening system.

[0025] The lifting arms are, according to some embodiments, either rigid bars or flexible elements such as cables or chains. The lifting arms extend mainly along the principal extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower.

[0026] The base has a length, that is to say a principal dimension measured between its two shorter sides, which is at least equal to the distance between the receiving holes provided in the base.

[0027] According to an optional feature of the invention, the installation system includes at least one pushing means connected to the base and configured to move the guidance device in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower.

[0028] The thrusting means is, for example, a jack mounted on the base. This thrusting means allows the guide device to be forcefully mounted onto the base support with very tight tolerances.

[0029] Due to the significant weight of the pushing means, which is several tens of tons, the base can be equipped with a consolidation means to prevent any bending or breakage of this base.

[0030] According to an optional feature of the invention, the receiving plate of the buffer is arranged between the main plate of the base and the base of the installation system in a main extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower.

[0031] The receiving plate is thus closer to the bottom wall of the storage tank than the main plate of the base.

[0032] The invention also relates to a cryogenic fluid storage tank, comprising a loading and / or unloading tower as previously mentioned, the base and the bottom wall, the guidance device blocking the loading and / or unloading tower relative to the base in at least one direction parallel to the bottom wall and allowing a movement of the loading and / or unloading tower relative to the base in a main extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower.

[0033] The storage tank is for example the tank of a floating structure, this storage tank being watertight and thermally insulated.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method for installing a guidance device for a loading and / or unloading tower as previously mentioned, a step of positioning the guidance device on the support of the base, a step of mounting the installation system of the guidance device on the base and a step of moving the guidance device using the installation system.

[0035] The installation method may include a preliminary step of drilling receiving holes in the base. During the installation process, the guide device is mounted on the side of the base support, and then the installation system is suspended from the base. The orientation of the guide device relative to the base support is then adjusted during the movement step, with the guide device sliding along the support. The order of the positioning and mounting steps is interchangeable.

[0036] According to an optional feature of the invention, during the assembly step, at least one of the hook arms of the installation system cooperates with one of the receiving ports of the base.

[0037] Thus, each hook arm cooperates with one of the receiving ports, either directly or via the fastening system.

[0038] According to an optional feature of the invention, the method includes a step of positioning the pad within the receiving plate.

[0039] This step is for example concomitant with the positioning step of the guidance device.

[0040] According to an optional feature of the invention, the method includes a step of removing the installation system.

[0041] This removal step occurs either after the assembly step or after the positioning step of the buffer. It is thus understood that the installation system is removable and does not remain permanently in the tank once the assembly of the guiding device is complete, so as not to hinder the loading and / or unloading and storage of cryogenic fluid.

[0042] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description on the one hand, and the illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0043] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a cryogenic fluid storage tank, including a cryogenic fluid loading and / or unloading tower, the loading and / or unloading tower having a base which rests on a base of the tank;

[0044] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically, a close-up view of the base of the cryogenic fluid loading and / or unloading tower and the base of the tank of [Fig.1], with guide devices arranged between the base and the base;

[0045] [Fig.3] illustrates, schematically, a first embodiment of a system installation of one of the guidance devices of the [Fig.2];

[0046] [Fig.4] illustrates, schematically, a variant of the first embodiment of the installation system of the [Fig.3];

[0047] [Fig.5] illustrates, schematically, a second embodiment of the system installation of figures 3 and 4.

[0048] The features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0049] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0050] In the detailed description that follows, the terms "longitudinal," "transverse," and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the loading and / or unloading tower according to the invention. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a principal direction of extension of the guiding device, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a frame L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A vertical direction corresponds to a principal direction of extension of the loading and / or unloading tower, this vertical direction being parallel to a vertical axis V of the frame L, V, T, and this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, a transverse direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a transverse axis T of the frame L, V, T, this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the vertical axis V.

[0051] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a cryogenic fluid storage tank 1, for example, liquefied natural gas. It may be considered, without departing from the scope of the invention, that the cryogenic fluid is alternatively liquefied petroleum gas, methane, ethane, ammonia, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or hydrogen. The storage tank 1 is the tank of a floating structure, for example, a vessel intended for the processing of liquefied gas such as an LNG carrier, or of a land-based installation or gravity platform. The storage tank 1 comprises a bottom wall 2, which corresponds to its floor. The storage tank 1 also comprises side walls, not shown here, which, together with the bottom wall 2, help to define a storage volume for the liquefied natural gas. The walls of the storage tank 1 are provided with at least one layer of thermal insulation. covered by a sealing membrane, which is intended to be in contact with liquefied natural gas.

[0052] A conical base 4 is arranged on the bottom wall 2 of the storage tank 1. This base 4 projects from the bottom wall 2 in a vertical direction V substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 2. The base 4 forms a plinth intended to receive other elements of the storage tank 1.

[0053] As part of the elements supported by the base 4, the storage tank 1 includes at least one loading and / or unloading tower 6 configured for loading and / or unloading liquefied natural gas into the storage tank 1. In other words, the loading and / or unloading tower 6 allows the conveyance and / or discharge of liquefied natural gas to or from the storage tank 1. The loading and / or unloading tower 6 extends between a ceiling wall of the storage tank and its bottom wall 2, more precisely the base 4. The loading and / or unloading tower 6 is, for example, installed within the volume of the storage tank 1 through a cover of this storage tank 1 fitted to its ceiling wall.

[0054] The loading and / or unloading tower 6 extends along a main extension direction which is substantially parallel to the vertical direction V, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 2. The loading and / or unloading tower 6 extends between a first end 8 located opposite the ceiling wall of the storage tank 1 and a second end 10 located opposite the bottom wall 2. More specifically, the first end 8 is opposite the lid while the second end 10 is in contact with the base 4.

[0055] The loading and / or unloading tower 6 comprises a plurality of masts 12 extending mainly in the vertical direction V. The loading and / or unloading tower 6 here comprises three masts 12 which form a tripod, only two of these three masts 12 being visible in [Fig. 1]. These three masts 12 are joined at the second end 10 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 by a base 14, which is a plate substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2 connecting the masts 12 to each other and which therefore extends mainly in a longitudinal-transverse plane.

[0056] The base 14 corresponds to the part of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 which is positioned opposite the base 4. Due to this arrangement of the base 14 in relation to the base 4, the loading and / or unloading tower 6 is maintained in a vertical position within the storage tank 1, in particular when this loading and / or unloading tower 6 is at least partially immersed in the liquefied natural gas.

[0057] The base 14 is formed of a main plate 16 which extends mainly in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction V, that is to say a longitudinal-transverse plane. This main plate 16 is delimited along the vertical direction V by a first side 18 and a second side 20, which respectively form an upper and a lower face of the main plate 16. It is understood here that the first side 18, which corresponds to the upper face, is opposite a cover 22 of the storage tank 1, while the second side 20, which corresponds to the lower face, is opposite the bottom wall 2. The first side 18 of the main plate 16 is oriented towards the masts 12 and receives the second end 10 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the base 14 includes at least one support 24 which extends from the main plate 16 towards the bottom wall 2 of the storage tank 1.More specifically, the support 24 extends from the second side 20 of the main plate 16 of the base 14.

[0058] This support 24 serves to secure a guide device 26 to the base 14. During the installation of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 within the volume of the storage tank 1, the base 14 is positioned relative to the base 4 by means of at least one guide device 26. This guide device 26 has the particular function of allowing vertical translation of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 relative to the base 4 while preventing movement in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the loading and / or unloading tower 6 comprises several guide devices 26 arranged around the base 4, the number of guide devices 26 being equivalent to the number of supports 24 for the base 14.Unless otherwise stated, the characteristics described in relation to one of these guidance devices 26 are intended to apply, mutatis mutandis, to all guidance devices 26.

[0059] The guiding device 26 includes a receiving plate 28 of substantially rectangular shape which extends mainly along a longitudinal direction L substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2. The receiving plate 28 thus has two large sides which extend mainly along the longitudinal direction L as well as two small sides which connect the large sides together and which extend mainly along the vertical direction V.

[0060] The receiving plate 28 forms a base for a buffer 30 of the guiding device 26, this buffer 30 being a protective device intended to come into contact with the base 4. This buffer 30 is configured to allow movement of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 in the vertical direction V but to prevent movement of this loading and / or unloading tower 6 in the directions parallel to the bottom wall 2, i.e., a displacement in a longitudinal-transverse plane. The buffer 30 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE, while the receiving plate 28 of the guiding device 26 is made of stainless steel.

[0061] The guide device 26 is intended to be secured to the support 24 of the base 14. For this purpose, the receiving plate 28 has, opposite the buffer 30, at least one extension 32 which contributes to fixing the guide device 26 to the support 24. The receiving plate 28 here has two extensions 32 which extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to the buffer 30.

[0062] As can be particularly seen in Figures 3 to 5, the support 24 of the base 14 is formed of at least one side 34 which extends mainly perpendicularly to the main plate 16. This side 34 comprises a first face and a second face between which a thickness of the side 34 is defined. The guide device 26 is fixed to the support 24 by means of its extensions 32 which are arranged on either side of the side 34. In other words, one of the extensions 32 is arranged in contact with the first face of the side 34 and the other extension 32 is arranged in contact with its second face. An oblong hole, not visible in the figures, is provided within the side opposite the extensions 32. This oblong hole, which extends mainly in the vertical direction V, allows adjustment of the positioning of the guide device 26 relative to the support 24 in this vertical direction V.To do this, the guide device 26 is equipped with an adjustment system 36, which includes, for example, screws intended to cooperate with the oblong hole and bolts pressed against the extensions 32. The height of the guide device 26 relative to the support 24, i.e. its position along the vertical direction V, can thus be adjusted by operating the screws and bolts of the adjustment system 36.

[0063] Notably, mounting the guide device 26 on the support 24 of the base 14 requires applying significant pressure to the guide device 26. To facilitate such mounting, the loading and / or unloading tower 6 is equipped with an installation system 38. This installation system 38 will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. The installation system 38 is illustrated in a first embodiment in Figures 3 and 4 and in a second embodiment in [Fig. 5].

[0064] The installation system 38 is designed to receive at least one thrusting means 40. The thrusting means 40 here takes the form of two hydraulic cylinders. The thrusting means 40 is configured to move, during an installation process that will be described later, the guide device 26 in the vertical direction V so as to adjust its positioning relative to the support 24 of the base 14. The thrusting means 40 is thus configured to exert pressure on the guide device 26 along the vertical direction V. Such pressure has the effect of sliding the guide device 26 relative to the support 24.

[0065] The thrusting means 40 is supported by the installation system 38. More specifically, the installation system 38 consists of a base 42 and attachment arms 44 which suspend the base 42 from the mounting plate 14, such that the receiving plate 28 of the buffer 30 is positioned between the main plate 16 of the mounting plate 14 and the base 42 in the vertical direction V. The base 42 is, for example, a metal plate on which the thrusting means 40 is placed. If necessary, the base 42 may include a reinforcement means, for example configured to increase its thickness in the vertical direction V, in order to withstand the considerable weight of the thrusting means 40. Such a reinforcement means then extends parallel to the base 42 and is in contact with it, attached to it.

[0066] The base 42 extends mainly in a longitudinal-transverse plane. The base 42 has a length, i.e., its largest dimension, which is greater than the length of the receiving plate 28 of the guiding device 26 measured along one of its long sides. The length of the base 42 and the length of the receiving plate 28 are measured along the longitudinal direction L.

[0067] The base 42 is connected to the plinth 14 by means of the attachment arms 44. In a first embodiment of the first representation of [Fig. 3], there are two attachment arms 44, and in a second embodiment of the first representation of [Fig. 4] and in the second representation of [Fig. 5], there are four. The attachment arms 44 extend primarily in the vertical direction V between the base 42 and the plinth 14. The attachment arms 44 are here straight and rigid rods, but without departing from the scope of the invention, one could imagine embodiments in which the attachment arms 44 are flexible elements such as cables. The attachment arms 44 are, for example, made of metal.

[0068] The gripping arms 44 are secured to the base 42 by means of fastening elements 46. More specifically, the gripping arms 44 are mounted through the base 42 and are retained by fastening elements 46, which are bolts. The fastening elements 46 are positioned against a face of the base 42 opposite a face of said base 42 intended to receive the thrusting means 40.

[0069] The gripping arms 44 are more precisely secured to longitudinal ends of the base 42. Thus, in the first variant of the first embodiment of [Fig. 3], each longitudinal end of the base 42 receives one gripping arm 44, while in the second variant of the first embodiment of [Fig. 4] and in the second embodiment of [Fig. 5], each longitudinal end of the base 42 receives two gripping arms 44. Due to the length of the base 42 being greater than the length of the receiving plate 28 of the guiding device 26, the gripping arms 44 extend on either side of the guide device 26. Thus, along the longitudinal direction L, there is one gripping arm 44 on each side of the guide device 26 in the first variant of the first embodiment, and two gripping arms 44 on each side of the guide device 26 in the second variant of the first embodiment and in the second embodiment.

[0070] As mentioned above, the hook arms 44 connect the base 42 to the base 14 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6. Such a connection between the base 42 and the base 14 is made differently depending on whether it is the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

[0071] In the first embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the mounting system 38 is through-mounted on the main plate 16 of the base 14. For this purpose, receiving holes 48 for the mounting arms 44 are provided in the main plate 16 along the vertical direction V. It is understood that in the first embodiment, the receiving holes 48 pass through the main plate 16 of the base 14 from its first side 18 to its second side 20. The mounting arms 44 are retained at the first side 18 of the main plate 16 by means of fasteners not shown here. The fasteners are, for example, bolts positioned against the first side 18 of the main plate 16.

[0072] On the contrary, in the second embodiment, the installation system 38 is not engaged with the main plate 16 of the base. Rather, the installation system 38 is connected to the support 24 of the base 14. In other words, in this second embodiment, the receiving holes 48 of the gripping arms 44 are provided within the support 24. It should be noted that the support 24 comprises, in addition to the side 34, at least one reinforcement 50 at a junction between this side 34 and the main plate 16. The support 24 here comprises at least two reinforcements 50 arranged on either side of the side 34. The reinforcements 50 extend mainly perpendicularly to the side 34; There is thus a reinforcement 50 on the first face of the flank 28 and another reinforcement 50 on the second face of said flank 34. It is understood here that the reinforcements 50 and the flank 34 have, according to a view in section parallel to the main plate 16, a cross shape.The reinforcements 50 allow a local increase of one dimension of the support 26 in contact with the main plate 16 of the base 14. .

[0073] As can be seen in [Fig. 5], in the second embodiment, the receiving holes are provided in the reinforcements 50 that extend on either side of the side 34 of the support 24. More specifically, the gripping arms 44 are equipped with fastening means 52 configured to hold the gripping arms 44 relative to the receiving holes 48. The fastening means 52 here consist of an assembly of screws, bolts, and plates. The gripping arms 44 are connected to the plates, which are positioned in contact with the reinforcements 50. The screws pass through both the plates and the reinforcements via the receiving ports 48, the bolts allowing to secure such an assembly.

[0074] It is understood from the above that in the first embodiment, the gripping arms 44 cooperate directly with the receiving ports 48 by passing through them, while in the second embodiment the gripping arms 44 cooperate indirectly with the receiving ports 48. In this second embodiment, the gripping arms 44 cooperate with the receiving ports 48 by means of the fastening means 52 and more particularly the screws which pass through the receiving ports 48.

[0075] Whether in the first embodiment or in the second embodiment, the number of receiving ports 48 is equal to the number of hook arms 44, that is to say there are two receiving ports 48 in the first variant of [Fig.3] and four receiving ports 48 in the second variant of [Fig.4].

[0076] Furthermore, the receiving ports 48 are arranged at a predefined distance from each other. Here, we consider a distance between the receiving ports 48, each receiving one of the attachment arms 44, for the first variant of the first embodiment of [Fig. 3]. For the second variant of the first embodiment of [Fig. 4] and the second embodiment of [Fig. 5], we consider the receiving ports 48 in pairs, that is to say, the distance is measured between the receiving ports receiving two attachment arms 44 aligned along the longitudinal direction L.

[0077] The receiving ports 48 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the length of the receiving plate 28 of the buffer 30, such a distance being measured parallel to the longitudinal direction L. The length of the receiving plate 28 is, for example, 350 millimeters. More generally, the length of the receiving plate 28 is between 340 and 360 millimeters. The receiving ports 48 are, for example, spaced apart by a value corresponding to the length of the receiving plate 28 plus a margin of between 20 and 300 millimeters.

[0078] The installation method for the guidance device 26 will now be described. This installation method comprises a series of steps, some of which are interchangeable in order. At the beginning of this installation method, the loading and / or unloading tower is in a positioning configuration.

[0079] The installation method includes a step of positioning the guide device 26 on the support 24 of the base 14. During this step, the guide device 26 is positioned in the vicinity of the support 24 so that its extensions 32 are arranged on either side of the flank 34 of the support 24. The buffer 30 is also positioned within the receiving plate 28 of the guide device 26.

[0080] The installation method also includes a step of mounting the installation system 38 onto the base 14. In the first embodiment, the system The installation system 38 is mounted on the main plate 16 of the base 14, while in the second embodiment, the installation system 38 is mounted on its support 24. Where applicable, this mounting step occurs after drilling the receiving holes 48 within the base 14, either in the main plate 16 for the first embodiment or in the reinforcements 50 of the support 24 for the second embodiment. This drilling step maintains the predefined distance between the receiving holes 48. During the mounting step of the installation system 38, the gripping arms 48 engage with the receiving holes 42 and are secured using the fastening means 52.

[0081] As mentioned previously, the order of the positioning and assembly steps is indifferent: the positioning step can precede the assembly step as described above, or the positioning step can follow the assembly step.

[0082] Following the positioning and assembly steps, the installation process includes a step of moving the guide device 26 by means of the installation system 38. More specifically, the installation system 38, through its thrust means 40, exerts pressure on the guide device 26, causing it to slide along the support 24 to a desired position. The guide device 26 is then held in position by means of its adjustment system 36.

[0083] When the guide device 26 is correctly positioned, the installation process is completed by a step of removing the installation system 38 during which it is detached from the base 14 and removed from the storage tank 1.

[0084] The buffer 30 can then be inserted into the guiding device 26, and more specifically against the receiving plate 28. When the buffer 30 is positioned against the receiving plate 28, the loading and / or unloading tower is in an installed configuration.

[0085] The present invention thus proposes a loading and / or unloading tower in which the installation of a guidance device is facilitated by the use of a removable installation system which makes it possible to limit the damage caused to a membrane of the storage tank in which the loading and / or unloading tower is positioned.

[0086] The present invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated herein and also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically operative combination of such means.

Claims

Demands

1. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) configured for loading and / or unloading cryogenic fluid into / from a storage tank (1), comprising a plurality of masts (12) and a base (14) connecting the masts (12) to each other, the base (14) comprising a main plate (16) connected to at least one of the masts (12) and at least one support (24) extending in a plane intersecting that of the main plate (16), the loading and / or unloading tower (6) comprising at least one guide device (26) connected to the support (24) of the base (14) and configured to come into contact with a base (4) integral with a bottom of the storage tank (1), the guide device (26) comprising a receiving plate (28) configured to receive a pad (30), the base (14) comprising at least two receiving ports (48) configured to receive an installation system (38) for the guidance device (26),the two receiving ports (48) being spaced apart by a distance greater than a principal dimension of the receiving plate (28) configured to receive the buffer (30) measured parallel to the main plate (16) of the base (14).

2. Loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving ports (48) are provided in the main plate (16) of the base (14).

3. Loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving ports (48) are provided in the support (24) of the base (14) carrying the guiding device (26).

4. Loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding device (26) includes a buffer (30) disposed against the receiving plate (28).

5. Loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the installation system (38) of the guiding device (26), this installation system (38) comprising a base (42) and at least two hook arms (44) attached to the base (42), the hook arms (44) being intended to cooperate with the receiving ports (48) of the base (14).

6. Loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to claim 5, wherein the installation system (38) comprises at least one thrusting means (40) connected to the base (42) and configured to move the guiding device (26) in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower (6).

7. Loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the receiving plate (28) is disposed between the main plate (16) of the base (14) and the plinth (42) of the installation system (38) in a main extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower (6).

8. Cryogenic fluid storage tank (1), comprising a loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the base (4) and the bottom wall (2), the guiding device (26) blocking the loading and / or unloading tower (6) relative to the base (4) in at least one direction parallel to the bottom wall (2) and permitting movement of the loading and / or unloading tower (6) relative to the base (4) in a principal extension direction of the loading and / or unloading tower (6).

9. Method of installing a guidance device (26) of a loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a step of positioning the guidance device (26) on the support (24) of the base (14), a step of mounting the installation system (38) of the guidance device (26) on the base (14) and a step of moving the guidance device (26) by means of the installation system (38).

10. Installation method according to claim 9 in combination with claim 5, wherein during the assembly step, at least one of the hook arms (44) of the installation system (38) cooperates with one of the receiving ports (48) of the base (14).

11. Installation method according to any one of claims 9 and 10 in combination with claim 4, comprising a step of positioning the pad (30) within the receiving plate (28).

12. Installation method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, comprising a step of removing the installation system (38).