Liquefied gas storage facilities

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquefied gas storage installation (1) comprising a load-bearing structure (2) and a tank (71), the tank (71) comprising a ceiling wall (4) locally interrupted to define an opening (7), the secondary insulation barrier (10) comprising an edge secondary insulation block (34) adjacent an edge (25) of the opening (7), the primary insulation barrier (12) comprising an edge primary insulation block (39) adjacent the edge and a primary insulation panel (18) aligned with the edge primary insulation block (39), the edge primary insulation block (39) extending alongside a first portion of the edge secondary insulation block (34) and fixed to the edge secondary insulation block (34), the primary insulation panel (18) extending alongside a second portion of the edge secondary insulation block (34) and the primary insulation panel (18) fixed to the edge secondary insulation block (34).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to the field of storage installations for liquefied gases comprising sealed, insulated tanks provided with a sealing membrane. The invention is particularly in the field of sealed, insulated tanks for storing and / or transporting liquefied gases at low temperatures, such as tanks for transporting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -163°C at atmospheric pressure or tanks for transporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LGP) at temperatures between -50°C and 0°C. Such tanks can be installed on land or on floating structures. In the floating structures, said tanks can be used for transporting or receiving liquefied gases that serve as fuel for powering the floating structure. [Background technology]

[0002] From the prior art, for example from WO2019234360, a sealed insulated tank assembled to a load-bearing structure of a ship is known, the tank comprising a secondary insulating barrier, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary insulating barrier and a primary sealing membrane. The tank comprises a number of tank walls assembled together. The secondary sealing membrane comprises a number of parallel strakes. Each strake has a flat central part extending in a first direction and two raised edges arranged on either side of the flat central part, the raised edges protruding from the central part towards the inside of the tank. Thus, said strakes are arranged in a repeating pattern in the second direction and are welded together at the raised edges. Such secondary sealing membranes are generally called membrane tendues and, unlike corrugated membranes, do not have zones capable of absorbing compressive or tensile forces in the first direction.

[0003] In this type of structure, the secondary sealing membrane is interrupted, for example by openings for the passage of loading lines, where it terminates and is directly connected to the load-bearing structure, absorbing compressive and tensile forces due in particular to thermal contraction of the sealing membrane, deformations of the ship, for example associated with bending of the hull girders, and the filling level of the tanks.

[0004] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0144178 describes a tank wall configuration provided at the above-mentioned discontinuity formed by a liquid dome. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One of the gist of the invention is to allow for easy assembly of a primary insulating barrier near an opening.

[0006] Another idea behind the invention is to limit the number of fixing points.

[0007] Another aspect of the invention is to improve the support of the primary sealing membrane near the opening.

[0008] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a liquefied gas storage facility comprising: a metal load-bearing structure; and a sealed, insulated tank disposed within the load-bearing structure; The tank is formed in a thickness direction of the tank from the outside to the inside. a secondary insulating barrier secured to the load-bearing structure; a metallic secondary sealing membrane disposed in the secondary insulating barrier; a primary insulating barrier disposed on the secondary sealing membrane; a primary sealing membrane disposed in the primary insulating barrier and in contact with the liquefied gas; It is equipped with the load-bearing structure includes an upper load-bearing wall; The tank includes a ceiling wall fixed to the upper load-bearing wall; The ceiling wall is locally interrupted to define a loading opening through which a loading line passes, the secondary sealing membrane of the ceiling wall includes a plurality of parallel strakes extending in a first direction; Each of the strakes has a flat central portion and two raised edges projecting from the central portion toward the interior of the tank; the strakes are arranged in a repeating pattern in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are sealingly welded to one another at the raised edges; The secondary insulation barrier of the ceiling wall includes an end secondary insulation block adjacent to an edge of the loading opening and a secondary insulation panel aligned with the end secondary insulation block in the second direction; The edge of the loading opening extends in the first direction, The primary insulation barrier of the ceiling wall includes an end primary insulation block adjacent to the edge of the loading opening and a primary insulation panel aligned with the end primary insulation block in the second direction; the end primary insulation block extends alongside a first portion of the end secondary insulation block and is secured to the end secondary insulation block; the primary insulation panel extends alongside a second portion of the end secondary insulation block adjacent the first portion in the second direction; The primary insulation panels are secured to the edge secondary insulation blocks.

[0009] With the above-mentioned configuration, it is relatively easy to form the primary insulation barrier of the ceiling wall along the edge of the loading opening extending in the first direction. Furthermore, both the end primary insulation block and the end portion of the primary insulation panel on the side of the end primary insulation block are supported by the end secondary insulation block, thereby reducing the size and probability of a thickness difference, i.e., a step, at the interface between the primary insulation panel and the end primary insulation block.

[0010] In an embodiment, the storage facility may comprise one or more of the following features:

[0011] In one embodiment, the edge primary insulation block has a stiffness in the thickness direction greater than the primary insulation panel.

[0012] In one embodiment, the thermal contraction coefficient of the end primary insulation block in the thickness direction is lower than that of the primary insulation panel, and preferably is between the thermal contraction coefficient of the strake and that of the primary insulation panel.

[0013] In one embodiment, the edge primary insulation block and the primary insulation panel are secured to the edge secondary insulation block using a common anchoring arrangement.

[0014] In one embodiment, the distance in the second direction between the interface between the end secondary insulation block and the secondary insulation panel and the edge of the loading opening is greater than the distance between the interface between the end primary insulation block and the primary insulation panel and the edge of the loading opening.

[0015] In one embodiment, the end primary insulation block is made in the form of a box having a bottom plate, a cover plate parallel to the bottom plate, and a load-bearing spacer plate that holds the cover plate spaced from the bottom plate, the box being filled with insulating stuffing.

[0016] In one embodiment, the end secondary insulation block is made in the form of a box having a bottom plate, a cover plate parallel to the bottom plate, and a load-bearing spacer plate that holds the cover plate spaced from the bottom plate, the box being filled with insulating stuffing.

[0017] The insulating stuffing is for example perlite, glass wool, or rock wool. The bottom plate, cover plate, and load-bearing spacer plate are made of for example plywood.

[0018] In one embodiment, the primary insulation panel comprises, in order through the thickness, at least one layer of insulating foam and at least one rigid plate.

[0019] In one embodiment, the insulating foam is a polymer foam, such as polyurethane foam. In one embodiment, the insulating foam has a density of 100 kg / m 3 More than 120 kg / m 3 or more, especially 130 or 210 kg / m 3 It is.

[0020] In one embodiment, the structural insulating foam is a reinforced foam, such as a foam reinforced with fibers, such as fiberglass.

[0021] In one embodiment, the bottom panel is a panel made of plywood or composite material.In one embodiment, the cover panel is a panel made of plywood or composite material.

[0022] In one embodiment, the thermal contraction coefficient of the edge primary insulation block through the thickness is less than the thermal contraction coefficient of the primary insulation panel through the thickness.

[0023] In one embodiment, the end primary insulation block is parallelepiped-shaped and has two sides perpendicular to the first direction, at least one of the sides being fixed to the end secondary insulation block.

[0024] In one embodiment, the edge primary insulation block has a support surface and the anchoring device comprises a base fixed to the edge secondary insulation block, a pin fixed to the base and extending in the thickness direction and penetrating to seal an opening in the secondary sealing membrane, and a support element attached to the pin and supported on the support surface of the edge primary insulation block to secure the edge primary insulation block to the edge secondary insulation block.

[0025] In one embodiment, a protrusion is provided on at least one of the side surfaces of the end primary insulation block, and the support surface is formed on the protrusion.

[0026] In one embodiment, the protrusion is formed by a plywood shim.

[0027] In one embodiment, the primary insulation panel has a support surface and the support element is supported on the support surface of the primary insulation panel to hold the primary insulation panel against the edge secondary insulation block.

[0028] In one embodiment, the support surface of the primary insulation panel is located at a corner of the primary insulation panel.

[0029] In one embodiment, the anchoring device further comprises a flange which is integral with the pin, the flange protruding radially outwardly of the pin and secured around the opening in the secondary sealing membrane so as to seal against the secondary sealing membrane.

[0030] In one embodiment, the anchoring device further comprises a sealing washer which engages the pin, the sealing washer comprising a flange secured around the opening of the secondary sealing membrane to seal against the secondary sealing membrane.

[0031] In one embodiment, the anchoring device includes a deformable seal sealingly connecting the flange to the pin to permit relative movement between the flange and the pin.

[0032] In one embodiment, the end secondary insulation block is parallelepiped-shaped and has two sides perpendicular to the first direction, at least one of the sides being fixed to the load-bearing structure using a fastener, and the base of the anchoring device being fixed to the side such that the anchoring device is aligned with the fastener in the thickness direction.

[0033] In one embodiment, the side has a lower convex portion having a support surface and an upper convex portion, the fastener comprises at least one threaded rod extending in the thickness direction and fixed to the upper load-bearing wall, and a retaining plate attached to the threaded rod and supported by the support surface of the lower convex portion, and the base of the anchor device comprises a lower plate and an upper plate that sandwich the upper convex portion.

[0034] In one embodiment, the primary insulation barrier of the ceiling wall comprises a row of edge primary insulation blocks adjacent to an edge of the loading opening, the edge primary insulation blocks being aligned with each other in the first direction, and the primary insulation barrier of the ceiling wall further comprises a row of primary insulation panels aligned with each other in the first direction.

[0035] In one embodiment, the row of end primary insulation blocks includes a first end primary insulation block and a second end primary insulation block adjacent to the first end primary insulation block, and the row of primary insulation panels includes a first primary insulation panel adjacent to the first end primary insulation block and a second primary insulation panel adjacent to the second end primary insulation block, and the first end primary insulation block, the second end primary insulation block, the first primary insulation panel, and the second primary insulation panel are secured to the end secondary insulation blocks using a shared anchoring arrangement.

[0036] In one embodiment, the secondary insulation barrier of the ceiling wall comprises a row of end secondary insulation blocks adjacent to an edge of the loading opening, the end secondary insulation blocks being aligned with each other in the first direction, and the base of the anchoring device being fixed to two adjacent end secondary insulation blocks at an interface formed between the two adjacent end secondary insulation blocks.

[0037] In one embodiment, the secondary insulation barrier comprises an edge secondary insulation block and a secondary insulation panel adjacent to the edge secondary insulation block in the first direction, the secondary insulation panel having a different structure than the other secondary insulation panels, for example such that it has a higher stiffness in the thickness direction than the other secondary insulation panels or a lower thermal contraction coefficient than the other secondary insulation panels.

[0038] In one embodiment, the deformable seal includes a deformable boot, the deformable boot being hollow and extending axially around and along the pin, the deformable boot being made, for example, from stainless steel.

[0039] In one embodiment, the anchoring device comprises a cylindrical shell which covers the deformable seal portion.

[0040] There are various ways in which the primary sealing membrane can be made. In one embodiment, the primary sealing membrane of the ceiling wall comprises a plurality of corrugated metal plates welded to each other side by side in the first direction and in the second direction, the primary sealing membrane comprising a first row of corrugations extending in the first direction and a second row of corrugations extending in the second direction.

[0041] In one embodiment, the tank comprises a cover disposed within the loading opening, the cover comprising a metal confinement wall and a thermal insulation structure located between the confinement wall and the upper load-bearing wall, the cover being fixed to the upper load-bearing wall, for example by welding, and the metal confinement wall being sealingly connected to the primary sealing membrane by metal connecting strips.

[0042] In one embodiment, the insulating structure of the cover comprises a plurality of insulating cover blocks, each of which is made in the form of a box having a cover plate, a bottom plate held apart by a load-bearing spacer plate, and sides, and the box is filled with insulating stuffing.

[0043] In one embodiment, the secondary sealing membrane, the sealing wall of the cover and / or the connecting strip are made of a metal with a low coefficient of expansion, for example a coefficient of thermal expansion of 0.5×10 -6 ~2×10 -6 K -1 It is an alloy of iron and nickel with a typical expansion coefficient of about 7×10 -6 K -1 It is also possible to use an alloy of iron and manganese, which is

[0044] In one embodiment, the secondary sealing membrane is made from stainless steel.

[0045] In one embodiment, the load-supporting structure comprises an aft cofferdam wall and a forward cofferdam wall on either side of the tank in the first direction, and two longitudinal walls arranged on either side of the tank in the second direction, and the loading opening is formed near one of the cofferdam walls, for example near the aft cofferdam wall.

[0046] In one embodiment, the edge of the loading opening is a lateral edge of the loading opening located between the opening and one of the longitudinal walls in the second direction.

[0047] The above mentioned storage facilities may be installed on land, for example for storing LNG, or on coastal or deep sea floating structures, in particular liquefied natural gas carriers, floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities, etc. Such facilities may also serve as fuel tanks on any type of ship.

[0048] In one embodiment, the storage facility is in the form of a floating structure, the load-bearing structure is made by a double hull of the floating structure, and the first direction is the longitudinal direction of the floating structure.

[0049] In one embodiment, the floating structure is a vessel for transporting cryogenic liquid products.

[0050] In one embodiment, the present invention also provides a cryogenic liquid product transfer system comprising the above-mentioned storage facility, an insulated pipe arranged to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to an external onshore or floating storage facility, and a pump for driving a flow of cryogenic liquid product from the external onshore or floating storage facility to the tank of the vessel or from the tank of the vessel to the external onshore or floating storage facility via the insulated pipe.

[0051] In one embodiment, the present invention also provides a method for loading or unloading the above storage facility, by flowing cryogenic liquid product in an insulated pipe from an external onshore or floating storage facility to the tanks of the vessel or from the tanks of the vessel to the external onshore or floating storage facility.

[0052] The present invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of several specific embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the specific embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0053] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a ship equipped with storage facilities. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view from the inside of the ceiling wall of the first embodiment in the zone near the loading opening of the tank, which corresponds to detail II of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 shows detail III of FIG. 2, specifically showing the fixing of the insulating elements of the secondary insulating barrier near the lateral edges. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the zone of FIG. 3 showing the secondary sealing membrane and the primary insulating barrier. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken at the anchoring device in a plane perpendicular to a first direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the addition of a primary sealing membrane. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 6, specifically showing an anchoring device in one embodiment. [Figure 8] 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, specifically showing another embodiment of the anchoring device; [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a tank installed on a liquefied natural gas carrier and a loading terminal corresponding to the tank, with some parts removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0054] By convention, the terms "above" or "top" refer to positions closer to the interior of the tank, and "below" or "bottom" refer to positions closer to the load-bearing structure, regardless of the orientation of the tank walls relative to the Earth's gravitational field. Thus, Figures 2-7 are shown in an inverted orientation relative to their actual positions in the storage facility.

[0055] 1 shows a liquefied natural gas carrier 70 for the storage and transportation of liquefied gas, however the invention is not limited to this type of vessel.

[0056] The ship 70 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a storage facility 1 with four tanks 71 arranged in a load-bearing structure 2 formed by and fixed to the inner hull of the ship 70. Each tank 71 is polyhedral and comprises a number of tank walls assembled together to form an inner space 3 and in particular a ceiling wall 4, an aft cofferdam wall 5 and a forward cofferdam wall 6. The forward cofferdam wall 6 and the aft cofferdam wall 5 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L of the ship 70 and are fixed to the upper part of the ceiling wall 4. For proper loading and unloading of said tanks 71, a loading opening 7 is provided in the ceiling wall 4 for passing a loading line. The ceiling wall 4 is fixed to an upper load-bearing wall 8 of the load-bearing structure 2. The upper load-bearing wall 8 is also provided with an opening for passing said loading line through the load-bearing structure 2.

[0057] The loading opening 7 is an entry point for various equipment for handling LNG, such as a filling line, an emergency pumping line, a lifting line connected to a lifting pump, a spray line, a supply line connected to a spray pump, etc. The operation of the above equipment is already known.

[0058] The loading and unloading opening 7 is provided in the ceiling wall 4 near the rear cofferdam wall 5.

[0059] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the roof wall 4 of one embodiment seen from inside the tank in the zone near the loading opening 7. Only the secondary insulating barrier 10 of the roof wall 4 is shown in this figure.

[0060] The multi-layer structure of the ceiling wall 4 will be described in more detail below.

[0061] The multi-layer structure of the ceiling wall 4 of a sealed, insulated tank 71 for storing liquefied gas such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprises, in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary insulating barrier 10 fixed to the upper load supporting wall 8, a secondary sealing membrane 11 installed on the secondary insulating barrier 10, a primary insulating barrier 12 installed on the secondary sealing membrane 11, and a primary sealing membrane 13 installed on the primary insulating barrier 12 and in contact with the liquefied natural gas that has entered the tank 71.

[0062] The secondary insulation barrier 10 includes a plurality of secondary insulation panels 14, which are secured to the upper load-bearing wall 8 by fasteners. The secondary insulation panels 14 have an overall shape of a parallelepiped, and the plurality of secondary insulation panels 14 are arranged, for example, in a plurality of parallel rows in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0063] The secondary sealing membrane 11 of the roof wall 4 comprises a continuous layer of connected metal strakes with raised edges. The strakes have a flat central section which is mounted on the secondary insulation panel 14 of the secondary insulation barrier 10, and two of the raised edges are located on either side of the flat central section in the lateral direction T, the raised edges protruding beyond the central section towards the interior of the tank. The strakes are welded at their raised edges to a number of parallel weld supports which are fixed in grooves in the surface of the secondary insulation panel 14 which contacts the secondary sealing membrane 11. The strakes are made, for example, of Invar®, an alloy of iron and nickel, which has a typical coefficient of expansion of 1.2×10 -6 ~2×10 -6 K -1 It is.

[0064] In Fig. 4, the primary insulation barrier 12 of the ceiling wall 4 is shown to include a number of primary insulation panels 18, which are secured to the secondary insulation panels 14 using connectors 9. The primary insulation panels 18 have an overall shape of a parallelepiped. Furthermore, the dimensions of the primary insulation panels 18 can be substantially equal to or different from the dimensions of the secondary insulation panels 14. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the primary insulation panels 18 are offset relative to the secondary insulation panels 14 in the longitudinal direction L and the lateral direction T.

[0065] In particular, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the secondary insulation panel 14 and the primary insulation panel 18 include a bottom plate 15, a cover plate 16, and one or more layers of insulating polymer foam 17 sandwiched and bonded between the bottom plate 15 and the cover plate 16. The insulating polymer foam 17 may in particular be a polyurethane-based polymer foam, and may optionally be fiber reinforced, in particular fiberglass reinforced.

[0066] As shown in Figure 6, the primary sealing membrane 13 comprises a plurality of corrugated metal plates aligned in a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T and welded to one another. The primary sealing membrane 13 comprises a first row 27 of corrugations extending in the longitudinal direction L and a second row 28 of corrugations extending in the transverse direction T. The corrugations in the second row of corrugations that are interrupted by the openings 7 are closed by corrugation caps 29.

[0067] To define the loading opening 7, the ceiling wall 4 is locally interrupted to allow the loading lines to pass through. The sealing membranes 11, 13 and the insulating barriers 10, 12 are thus interrupted all around the loading opening 7, as shown in FIG.

[0068] To ensure continuity of sealing and insulation at the opening, the tank 71 is provided with a cover (not shown) arranged in the loading opening 7. The cover comprises a metal sealing wall and an insulation structure located between the metal sealing wall and the upper load bearing wall 8. The cover is fixed to the upper load bearing wall by welding, which ensures the continuity of the upper load bearing wall throughout the tank. The metal sealing wall ensures continuity of sealing with the primary sealing membrane 13 of the ceiling wall 4, and the insulation structure ensures the continuity of insulation.

[0069] The insulating structure comprises one or more insulating cover blocks, e.g. in the form of a box having a bottom plate, a cover plate and a load-bearing spacer plate extending in thickness between the bottom plate and the cover plate and defining a number of compartments filled with an insulating filler, e.g. perlite, glass wool or rock wool, and the insulating cover block or blocks having through holes (not shown) for passing the loading lines.

[0070] The cover sealing wall, for example, comprises a number of flat metal plates welded together. The sealing wall is further provided with a number of cover openings (not shown) through which the loading and unloading lines pass. The storage facility 1 further comprises metal connecting strips (not shown) for sealingly connecting the cover sealing wall to the primary sealing membrane 13 of the ceiling wall 4.

[0071] Where the primary sealing membrane 13 is connected to the sealing wall of the cover at the loading opening 7, the secondary sealing membrane 11 is discontinued at the edge of said loading opening 7 and the secondary sealing membrane 11 is sealingly connected directly to the upper load-bearing wall 8 to seal the gap between the secondary insulating barrier 10 and the cover. This connection is made by means of a secondary connection angle 36 comprising a first secondary flange 37 and a second secondary flange 38 connected to said first secondary flange 37, which is connected to the secondary sealing membrane 11 and which is welded to an anchor plate 69 which is rigidly connected to the upper load-bearing wall 8, as shown in particular in figures 5 and 6.

[0072] The fixing of the secondary insulating barrier 10 and the primary insulating barrier 12 near the lateral edge 25 of the loading opening 7, i.e., the edge of the opening 7 extending in the longitudinal direction L, will be described in detail below.

[0073] 3, the secondary insulation barrier 10 of the ceiling wall 4 comprises a row of edge secondary insulation blocks 34 adjacent the lateral edges 25. These edge secondary insulation blocks 34 are aligned in the longitudinal direction L and secured to the upper load-bearing wall 8 using fasteners 41. Furthermore, the edge secondary insulation blocks 34 are staggered with the secondary insulation panels 14 in the row directly adjacent to them. In fact, the interface between two adjacent edge secondary insulation blocks 34 is not aligned with the interface between two adjacent secondary insulation panels 14.

[0074] The end secondary insulation blocks 34 have an overall shape of a parallelepiped, and each end secondary insulation block 34 has two side surfaces perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. As shown particularly in Figures 5 and 6, each side surface has a lower protrusion 46 having a support surface and an upper protrusion 47. The lower protrusion 46 is disposed in the lower portion of the side surface near the upper load-bearing wall 8, whereas the upper protrusion 47 is disposed in the upper portion of the side surface so as to be located near the secondary sealing membrane 11. The lower protrusion 46 and the upper protrusion 47 are made of, for example, plywood or a composite material.

[0075] The fixture 41 comprises two threaded rods 42 adjacent to each other in the lateral direction T, and these threaded rods 42 extend in the thickness direction. The threaded rods 42 of the fixture 41 are fixed to the upper load-bearing wall 8. The fixture 41 also comprises a retaining plate 43 attached to and held by the threaded rods 42 by means of a nut. The retaining plate 43 rests against the support surface of the lower protrusion 46 so as to press the end secondary insulation block 34 against the upper load-bearing wall 8, as shown in particular in FIG. 5 .

[0076] As shown in FIG. 3, one fastener 41 is used at the interface between two adjacent end secondary insulation blocks 34 to support the retaining plate 43 at the lower protrusions 46 of the two adjacent end secondary insulation blocks 34.

[0077] Like the secondary insulation barrier 10, the primary insulation barrier 12 of the ceiling wall 4 also includes a row of primary edge insulation blocks 39 adjacent to the lateral edge 25 of the loading opening 7. The primary edge insulation blocks 39 are arranged to line up with first portions of the secondary edge insulation blocks 34. In fact, the lateral dimensions of the primary edge insulation blocks 39 are smaller than the dimensions of the secondary edge insulation blocks 34. Thus, the faces of the primary edge insulation blocks 39 and the secondary edge insulation blocks 34 facing the opening 7 are aligned.

[0078] As shown particularly in Figures 5 and 6, the end primary insulation block 39 has two side walls perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and each of these side walls has a protrusion 44 formed in the lower portion of the side wall of the end primary insulation block 39.

[0079] The end primary insulation block 39 is secured to the end secondary insulation block 34 at each of said side walls by means of anchoring arrangements 45. Furthermore, the primary insulation panel 18 directly adjacent to the end primary insulation block 39 is also secured to the end primary insulation block 39 by means of the same anchoring arrangements 45. In effect, the primary insulation panel 18 is also aligned with a second portion adjacent to a first portion of the end secondary insulation block 34.

[0080] Thus, the primary and secondary insulation barriers are staggered in the transverse direction T such that the interface between the edge secondary insulation block 34 and the secondary insulation panel 14 is not aligned with the interface between the edge primary insulation block 39 and the primary insulation panel 18 in the transverse direction T. This arrangement distributes any thickness differences due to differential shrinkage between the edge insulation block and the insulation panel during operation, which may be due to differences in stiffness and / or thermal behavior. By spacing out the interfaces, the differences are prevented from accumulating at one point, which helps maintain the flatness of the membrane.

[0081] Furthermore, as is apparent from a comparison of Figures 3 and 4, the primary insulation panels 18 and the secondary insulation panels 14 are also staggered in the longitudinal direction L, such that the interface between two adjacent secondary insulation panels 14 in the longitudinal direction L is not aligned with the interface between two adjacent primary insulation panels 18 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0082] 7, the anchoring device 45 comprises a base 48 fixed to the upper protrusion 47 of the edge secondary insulation block 34, a pin 49 fixed to the base 48 and extending in the thickness direction to penetrate and seal the opening of the secondary sealing membrane 11, and a support element 50 attached to the pin 49 and supported on a support surface formed on the protrusion 44 of the edge primary insulation block 39 to fix the edge primary insulation block 39 to the edge secondary insulation block 34. The support element 50 is provided, for example, in the form of a plate held on the pin 49 by a nut.

[0083] The base 48 has a lower plate 60 and an upper plate 61, which are joined together by a screw fastener 62. The lower plate 60 is disposed below the upper protrusion 47 of the end secondary insulation block 34 and contacts the upper protrusion 47, whereas the upper plate 61 is disposed above the upper protrusion 47 and contacts the upper protrusion 47, thereby sandwiching the upper protrusion 47.

[0084] As for the fixing of the primary insulation panel 18 next to the end primary insulation block 39, as also shown in Figures 5 and 6, the primary insulation panel 18 has a recess formed in the foam 17 and a cover panel 16 at a lower corner 58 of the primary insulation panel 18 adjacent to the end primary insulation block 39. A batten 59 is provided at the lower corner 58. The support element 50 of the anchoring device 45 is also supported by a support surface formed by the batten 59. Thus, the end primary insulation block 39 and the primary insulation panel 18 can be fixed to the end secondary insulation block 34 by the shared anchoring device 45.

[0085] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the anchoring device 45 may advantageously be shared by four elements of the primary insulation barrier 12, specifically by two adjacent end primary insulation blocks 39 and the two primary insulation panels 18 directly adjacent to the end primary insulation blocks 39.

[0086] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, a base 48 is formed at the interface between the two end secondary insulation blocks 34 so as to be fixed to the upper protrusions 47 of each of the two end secondary insulation blocks 34 .

[0087] The anchor device 45 further comprises a sealing washer 51 which engages the pin 49, the sealing washer 51 having a flange 54 secured around the opening of the secondary sealing membrane 11 so as to seal against the secondary sealing membrane 11, and the anchor device 45 comprises a deformable seal portion 55 which sealingly connects the sealing washer to the pin to allow relative movement between the sealing washer 51 and the pin 49.

[0088] The flange 54 is for example sealingly fixed to the secondary sealing membrane 11 around its opening. Furthermore, the pin 49 has an anchor shoulder 56 which projects radially outwards of the pin 49. The deformable seal 55 is firstly sealingly welded to the sealing washer 51 and secondly sealingly welded to the anchor shoulder 56 of the pin 49, thereby ensuring the sealing of the pin 49 through the secondary sealing membrane 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the deformable seal 55 is a boot, for example made of stainless steel. In this way, the sealed connection between the secondary sealing membrane 11 and the pin 49 is flexible, which allows a relative movement between the end primary insulation block 39 and the primary insulation panel 18 adjacent to the secondary sealing membrane 11, which helps to limit the risk of damage to the sealing of the secondary sealing membrane 11.

[0089] To protect the deformable seal portion 55, the anchoring device 45 is also provided with a shell 57 having an opening through which the pin 49 is inserted to cover the deformable seal portion 55. In the embodiment shown, the shell 57 has an overall cylindrical shape.

[0090] FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of an anchoring device 45 .

[0091] Unlike the embodiment of Figure 7, the flange 54 of the anchoring device 45 in this embodiment is an integral part of the pin 49, i.e. the flange 54 is formed contemporaneously and of the same material as the rest of the pin 49, so as to form one and the same part. The flange 54 thus projects radially outwardly of the pin 49 and is welded around the opening in the secondary sealing membrane 11 so as to seal against the secondary sealing membrane 11. In this embodiment, the anchoring device 45 does not have any deformable seal or shell or anchor shoulder.

[0092] To seal the gap between the secondary insulating barrier 10 and the cover, the primary sealing membrane 13, like the secondary sealing membrane 11, is sealingly connected to the secondary connection angle 36. This connection is made by means of a primary connection angle 63 having a first primary flange 64 and a second primary flange 65 connected to the first primary flange 64, the first primary flange 64 being connected to the primary sealing membrane 13 and the second primary flange 65 being welded to the second secondary flange 38.

[0093] 9, a cut-away view of a liquefied natural gas carrier 70 shows a sealed, insulated tank 71 of prismatic overall shape mounted within the vessel's double hull 72. The walls of the tank 71 include a primary containment barrier in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary containment barrier disposed between the primary containment barrier and the vessel's double hull 72, and two insulating barriers disposed respectively between the primary and secondary containment barriers and between the secondary containment barrier and the double hull 72.

[0094] As is known, a loading pipe 73 located on the upper deck of the vessel can be connected to an offshore or port terminal using suitable connectors to transfer a cargo of LNG to or from the tank 71 .

[0095] FIG. 9 shows an example of a marine terminal with a loading point 75, a subsea pipe 76 and an onshore facility 77. The loading point 75 is a fixed offshore facility consisting of a movable arm 74 and a pole 78 that holds the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 supports a bundle of insulated hoses 79 that can be connected to a loading pipe 73. The movable arm 74 is directional adjustable and can be adjusted to fit any size of LNG carrier. A connecting line (not shown) runs inside the pole 78. The loading point 75 allows for unloading from the LNG carrier 70 to the onshore facility 77 and for loading from the onshore facility 77 to the LNG carrier 70. The onshore facility includes a liquefied gas storage tank 80 and a connecting line 81 that is connected to the loading point 75 via a subsea line 76. The subsea line 76 is for transporting liquefied gas over long distances, such as 5 km, between the loading point 75 and the onshore facility 77, thereby enabling the liquefied natural gas carrier 70 to be maintained at a long distance from shore during loading and unloading operations.

[0096] To generate the pressure required to transport the liquefied gas, pumps installed on the ship 70 and / or pumps installed at the onshore facility 77 and / or pumps installed at the loading and unloading point 75 are used.

[0097] Although the present invention has been described with reference to several specific embodiments, it is clear that the present invention is in no way limited to these specific embodiments, and that all technical equivalents of the above-mentioned means and combinations thereof are included in the present invention, provided they fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0098] Use of the verbs "include", "have" or "comprise" and their conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

[0099] In the claims, any reference signs in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A liquefied gas storage facility (1) comprising a metal load-supporting structure (2) and a sealed, insulated tank (71) disposed within the load-supporting structure, The sealed insulated tank is arranged such that, in a thickness direction of the sealed insulated tank, from the outside to the inside, a secondary insulating barrier (10) fixed to the load-bearing structure (2); a secondary sealing membrane (11) of metal disposed on the secondary insulating barrier (10); a primary insulating barrier (12) disposed on the secondary sealing membrane (11); a primary sealing membrane (13) disposed in the primary insulating barrier (12) and in contact with the liquefied gas; It is equipped with The load-bearing structure comprises an upper load-bearing wall (8), The sealed insulated tank (71) has a ceiling wall (4) fixed to the upper load-bearing wall (8), The ceiling wall (4) is locally interrupted to define a loading opening (7) through which a loading line passes, The secondary sealing membrane (11) of the ceiling wall (4) comprises a plurality of parallel strakes extending in a first direction (L); Each of the strakes has a flat central portion and two raised edges protruding from the central portion toward the interior of the sealed insulated tank; the strakes are arranged in a repeating pattern in a second direction (T) perpendicular to the first direction and are sealingly welded to one another at the raised edges; the secondary insulation barrier (10) of the ceiling wall (4) comprises an end secondary insulation block (34) adjacent to an edge (25) of the loading opening (7) and a secondary insulation panel (14) aligned with the end secondary insulation block (34) in the second direction (T); The edge of the loading opening extends in the first direction (L), the primary insulation barrier (12) of the ceiling wall (4) comprises an end primary insulation block (39) adjacent the edge of the loading opening (7) and a primary insulation panel (18) aligned with the end primary insulation block (39) in the second direction (T); the end primary insulation block (39) extends alongside a first portion of the end secondary insulation block (34) and is secured to the end secondary insulation block (34); the primary insulation panel (18) extends in the second direction (T) alongside a second portion of the end secondary insulation block (34) adjacent the first portion; The primary insulation panel (18) is secured to the end secondary insulation block (34). A storage facility (1).

2. The end primary insulation block (39) and the primary insulation panel (18) are secured to the end secondary insulation block (34) using a common anchoring device (45).

2. The storage facility of claim 1.

3. a distance in the second direction (T) between an interface between the end secondary insulation block (34) and the secondary insulation panel (14) and an edge of the loading opening (7) is greater than a distance between an interface between the end primary insulation block (39) and the primary insulation panel (18) and an edge of the loading opening (7); 3. The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The end primary insulation block (39) is made in the form of a box having a bottom plate, a cover plate parallel to the bottom plate, and a load-bearing spacer plate that holds the cover plate spaced from the bottom plate; The box is filled with insulating padding.

3. The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The primary insulation panel (18) comprises, in order through the thickness, at least one layer of insulating foam (17) and at least one rigid plate (15, 16).

3. The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The end primary insulation block (39) is parallelepiped-shaped and has two sides perpendicular to the first direction (L); At least one of the sides is secured to the end secondary insulation block (34).

3. The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The end primary insulation block (39) has a support surface; The anchoring device (45) a base (48) fixed to the end secondary insulation block (34); a pin (49) fixed to the base and extending in the thickness direction to penetrate the opening of the secondary sealing membrane (11) so as to seal the opening; a support element (50) attached to the pin and supported on the support surface of the edge primary insulation block (39) to secure the edge primary insulation block (39) to the edge secondary insulation block (34); Equipped with 3. The storage facility according to claim 2.

8. A protrusion (44) is provided on at least one of the side surfaces of the end primary insulation block (39), The support surface is formed on the convex portion. A storage facility according to claim 7 which recites claim 6.

9. The primary insulation panel (18) has a support surface; the support element (50) is supported on the support surface of the primary insulation panel to hold the primary insulation panel against the edge secondary insulation block (34).

8. The storage facility according to claim 7.

10. the support surface of the primary insulation panel (18) being disposed at a corner (58) of the primary insulation panel (18); 10. The storage facility of claim 9.

11. The anchoring device further comprises a flange (54) integral with the pin (49); The flange projects radially outward from the pin and is fixed to the secondary sealing membrane (11) around the opening so as to seal against the secondary sealing membrane (11).

10. The storage facility according to claim 7 or 9.

12. The end secondary insulation block (39) is parallelepiped-shaped and has two sides perpendicular to the first direction (L); At least one of the sides is secured to the load-bearing structure using fasteners (41); The base (48) of the anchor device (45) is fixed to the side surface so that the anchor device (45) is arranged next to the fastener (41) in the thickness direction.

10. The storage facility according to claim 7 or 9.

13. The side surface has a lower convex portion (46) having a support surface and an upper convex portion (47), the fixing device (41) comprises at least one threaded rod (42) extending in the thickness direction and fixed to the upper load-bearing wall (8), and a retaining plate (43) attached to the threaded rod (42) and supported by the support surface of the lower protrusion (46); The base of the anchor device (45) includes a lower plate (60) and an upper plate (61) that sandwich the upper protrusion (47).

13. The storage facility of claim 12.

14. the primary insulation barrier (12) of the ceiling wall (4) comprises a row of edge primary insulation blocks (39) adjacent the edge (25) of the loading opening (7); The end primary insulation blocks (39) are aligned with each other in the first direction (L); The primary insulation barrier (12) of the ceiling wall (4) further comprises a row of the primary insulation panels (18) aligned with each other in the first direction (L).

3. The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2.

15. the row of end primary insulation blocks (39) includes a first end primary insulation block (39) and a second end primary insulation block (39) adjacent to the first end primary insulation block (39); the row of primary insulation panels (18) includes a first primary insulation panel (18) adjacent the first end primary insulation block (39) and a second primary insulation panel (18) adjacent the second end primary insulation block (39); the first end primary insulation block (39), the second end primary insulation block (39), the first primary insulation panel (18), and the second primary insulation panel (18) are secured to the end secondary insulation block (34) using a common anchoring device (45); 15. The storage facility of claim 14.

16. the secondary insulation barrier (10) of the ceiling wall (4) comprises a row of edge secondary insulation blocks (34) adjacent to the edge of the loading opening (7); The end secondary insulation blocks (34) are aligned with each other in the first direction (L); the base of the anchoring device is fixed to two adjacent end secondary insulation blocks (34) at an interface formed between the two adjacent end secondary insulation blocks (39); 10. The storage facility according to claim 7 or 9.

17. The stiffness of the end primary insulation block (39) in the thickness direction is higher than that of the primary insulation panel (18).

3. The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2.

18. the storage facility is in the form of a floating structure, the load-bearing structure comprises a double hull (72) of the floating structure, the first direction (L) being the longitudinal direction (L) of the floating structure, the floating structure being preferably a ship (70) for transporting cryogenic liquid products, 3. The storage facility according to claim 1 or 2.

19. 1. A cryogenic liquid product transfer system comprising: A storage facility according to claim 18; a thermal insulation pipe (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the sealed thermal insulation tank (71) installed in the hull of the floating structure to an external land or floating storage facility (77); a pump for driving a flow of cryogenic liquid product from the external onshore or floating storage facility to the sealed insulated tank of the floating structure or from the sealed insulated tank of the floating structure to the external onshore or floating storage facility through the insulated pipe; A transfer system comprising:

20. 20. A method for loading or unloading a storage facility according to claim 18, comprising the steps of: A low-temperature liquid product is flowed through a thermally insulated pipe (73, 79, 76, 81) from an external land or floating storage facility (77) to the sealed insulated tank (71) of the floating structure, or from the sealed insulated tank (71) of the floating structure to the external land or floating storage facility (77). A method comprising:

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