Sealed insulated tank wall

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wall (11) for a sealed, insulated storage tank for liquefied gas, said wall (11) comprising, successively in its thickness direction, a secondary insulating barrier (12), a secondary sealing membrane (13), a primary insulating barrier (14) and a primary sealing membrane (15) intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank, said primary insulating barrier (14) having a first row of load-bearing members fixed to said secondary insulating barrier (12) and extending in said thickness direction, each of said load-bearing members (30) being fixed to a corresponding inner plate (42), each of said flat areas (46) of said primary sealing membrane (15) being provided and welded to one of said inner plates (42).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sealed, insulated tanks, in particular for the storage and / or transportation of liquefied gases, such as liquid hydrogen, which has a temperature of about -253°C at atmospheric pressure. [Background technology]

[0002] Sealed, insulated storage tanks for liquefied gases, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), are known in the art.

[0003] EP 2 859 267 B1 discloses a tank with a multi-layer wall, i.e. the wall is multi-layered and comprises, successively from the outside to the inside in the thickness direction of the wall, a secondary insulating barrier held by a load-bearing structure, a secondary sealing membrane held by said secondary insulating barrier, a primary insulating barrier held by said secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane designed to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank.

[0004] The primary insulation barrier comprises a plurality of thermal resistance elements, each of which comprises a rectangular or square cover panel and a plurality of load-bearing pillars fixed to and perpendicular to the bottom surface of the cover panel. The insulation barrier also has a frame formed by cross members and surrounding the cover panel. Each cross member is provided with an anchor plate that is also held in a counterbore in the cover wall.

[0005] The primary sealing membrane has a network of vertical corrugations to provide elasticity in all plane directions. The membrane is made from a rectangular sheet metal plate that is lap welded along its edges. The sheet metal plate is then placed over a cover panel and its edges are welded to anchor plates on cross members that form the frame.

[0006] The applicant has determined that the corrugations of the primary sealing membrane in tanks of the above-mentioned kind are not uniformly stressed. In particular, since the primary insulating barrier is discontinuous, i.e. composed of refractory elements juxtaposed to one another and each supporting several flat areas of the primary sealing membrane, its behavior is not uniform when the load-bearing structure deforms and / or when it is affected by the thermal and mechanical stresses generated by the liquefied gas stored in the tank. In particular, the applicant has found that the corrugations located in the area spanning a first anchor plate fixed to a first refractory element and a second anchor plate fixed to a second refractory element adjacent to the first refractory element are stressed to a greater extent than other corrugations extending between two anchor plates fixed to the same refractory element. Also, the flat surfaces of the primary sealing membrane rub against the cover panels of the refractory elements, also adversely affecting the uniformity of the stress distribution. Moreover, some corrugations deform more than others to compensate for larger displacements in the other corrugations. It is important to ensure that the distribution of stresses between the corrugations of the primary sealing membrane is as uniform as possible in order to optimize its service life. This point becomes even more important due to the low storage temperatures of liquefied gases and the resulting high thermal stresses on the primary sealing membrane.

[0007] Furthermore, the insulating performance of the aforementioned tanks is insufficient to allow the storage of cryogenic, e.g. liquefied gases such as liquid hydrogen, unless the thickness of the insulating barrier is significantly increased, which is undesirable in itself. Summary of the Invention

[0008] One idea at the heart of the present invention is to propose a wall for a sealed, insulated tank with a corrugated primary sealing membrane, in which the stresses applied to the primary sealing membrane are more distributed between its corrugations as uniformly as possible.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a wall for an insulated storage tank for liquefied gas, said wall comprising, successively in the thickness direction, a secondary insulating barrier applied to a load-bearing structure, a secondary sealing membrane applied to said secondary insulating barrier, a primary insulating barrier applied to said secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane applied to said primary insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the insulated storage tank, said primary sealing membrane having a first series of corrugations with first corrugations parallel to one another and a second series of corrugations with second corrugations parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first corrugations, said primary sealing membrane being arranged such that each adjacent the primary insulation barrier has a plurality of flat regions defined between adjacent two of the first corrugations and between adjacent two of the second corrugations, the primary insulation barrier has a first row of load-bearing members secured to the secondary insulation barrier in a direction parallel to the first corrugations and extending in the thickness direction, the first load-bearing member, the second load-bearing member, and the third load-bearing member being secured to a first inner panel, a second inner panel, and a third inner panel, respectively, the plurality of flat regions including first flat regions, second flat regions, and third flat regions welded to the first inner panel, the second inner panel, and the third inner panel, respectively, successively in a direction parallel to the first corrugations.

[0010] According to these features, the three load-bearing members are not rigidly connected to each other and form three discrete support structures, each supporting one flat area of ​​the primary sealing membrane, which allows a good distribution of stress between the corrugations of the primary sealing membrane, more specifically between the corrugations on both sides of the first, second and third flat areas.

[0011] The adverb "continuously" means "one after the other." Thus, "a first row of load-bearing members including at least a first load-bearing member, a second load-bearing member, and a third load-bearing member in a direction parallel to the first corrugation" means that no other load-bearing members in the first row of load-bearing members are interposed between the first load-bearing member and the second load-bearing member, or between the second load-bearing member and the third load-bearing member. Similarly, "the plurality of flat regions including a first flat region, a second flat region, and a third flat region in a direction parallel to the first corrugation" means that no other flat region is interposed between the first load-bearing region and the second load-bearing region, or between the second load-bearing region and the third load-bearing region.

[0012] According to embodiments, such a wall may have one or more of the following characteristics:

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first and second flat regions are separated from each other in the thickness direction by a second corrugation arranged opposite the free space separating the first and second inner panels, and the second and third flat regions are separated in the thickness direction by a second corrugation arranged corresponding to the free space separating the second and third outer panels.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the first inner plate, the second inner plate and the third inner plate are fixed by riveting to correspond to the first force-resisting member, the second force-resisting member and the third force-resisting member, respectively.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the first, second and third inner plates contact more than 70% and advantageously between 90% and 100% of the surface area of ​​the first, second and third flat areas, respectively, so that the stresses caused by the hydrostatic and dynamic pressures exerted by the liquefied gas on the primary sealing membrane can be distributed over a larger support surface, improving stress distribution.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the primary sealing membrane comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets, each of the corrugated metal sheets having an edge that is lap welded to an edge of an adjacent corrugated metal sheet, and the first flat area, the second flat area and the third flat area are formed by the two edges of two adjacent corrugated metal sheets. In other words, the first inner plate, the second inner plate and the third inner plate support and anchor the two adjacent edges of two adjacent corrugated metal sheets.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the first, second and third flat regions are spot welded to the first, second and third inner plates, respectively.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the primary insulation barrier has at least a second row of resistance members fixed to the secondary insulation barrier and extending in the thickness direction of the wall, the second row including a fourth resistance member, a fifth resistance member, and a sixth resistance member, the fourth resistance member, the fifth resistance member, and the sixth resistance member being aligned in a direction parallel to the first corrugation and fixed to a fourth inner panel, a fifth inner panel, and a sixth inner panel, respectively, the fourth resistance member, the fifth resistance member, and the sixth resistance member being aligned along the first resistance member, the second resistance member, and the third resistance member, respectively, in a direction parallel to the second corrugation, and the plurality of flat regions including a fourth flat region, a fifth flat region, and a sixth flat region provided for the fourth inner panel, the fifth inner panel, and the sixth inner panel, respectively. Thus, the primary insulating barrier has both load-bearing members aligned parallel to the first corrugations of the primary sealing membrane and load-bearing members aligned parallel to the second corrugations of the primary sealing membrane.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the fourth, fifth and sixth flat regions are welded to the fourth, fifth and sixth inner plates, respectively.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the fourth, fifth and sixth flat regions are each separated from one of the edges of the corrugated metal sheet to which the edge belongs by at least one first corrugation and one second corrugation, so that the flat regions of the primary sealing membrane are also welded to the inner plates on the outside of the edges of the corrugated metal sheet, which further improves the stress distribution over the corrugations of the primary sealing membrane.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the fourth, fifth and sixth planar regions are stake welded to the fourth, fifth and sixth inner plates, respectively.

[0022] According to one embodiment, each flat area of ​​the primary sealing membrane abuts a respective inner plate which is fixed to a respective load-bearing member, i.e. to the secondary insulating barrier, extending in the thickness direction, thereby ensuring a uniform stress distribution across the corrugations of the entire primary sealing membrane.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first, second and third load-bearing members are fixed to the first, second and third outer panels, respectively, which are fixed to the secondary insulation barrier and press the secondary sealing membrane against the secondary insulation barrier, so that the outer panels have a dual functionality: first, they fix the load-bearing members to the secondary insulation barrier, and second, they prevent the secondary sealing membrane from peeling off, especially when the pressure inside the secondary insulation barrier is higher than the pressure inside the primary insulation barrier.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the secondary sealing membrane comprises a first series of corrugations having first corrugations parallel to each other and a second series of corrugations having second corrugations parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first corrugations, the secondary sealing membrane having a plurality of flat regions each defined between two adjacent first corrugations and between two adjacent second corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane, and each of the first outer plate, the second outer plate and the third outer plate is pressed against one of the flat regions of the secondary sealing membrane.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the first, second and third outer plates each contact more than 70% and advantageously between 90% and 100% of the surface area of ​​the corresponding flat area of ​​the secondary sealing membrane, which improves stress distribution by distributing the stress transmitted by the load bearing members over a larger surface area of ​​the secondary sealing membrane.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the first series of corrugations and the second series of corrugations in the secondary sealing membrane are opposite in the thickness direction to corresponding first series of corrugations and the second series of corrugations in the primary sealing membrane.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the first outer panel, the second outer panel and the third outer panel are secured to the first load-bearing member, the second load-bearing member and the third load-bearing member, respectively, by riveting.

[0028] According to one embodiment, each of the first outer panel, the second outer panel, and the third outer panel are secured to the secondary insulation barrier by a primary anchoring device, the primary anchoring device being secured to an insulating panel of the secondary insulation barrier and including a pin passing through an opening in the secondary sealing membrane and an opening in one of the first outer panel, the second outer panel, and the third outer panel, the pin being welded to the secondary sealing membrane around the opening in the secondary sealing membrane and having a radially extending flange, the primary anchoring device further including a nut threaded onto the pin to hold the first outer panel, the second outer panel, or the third outer panel against the secondary sealing membrane.

[0029] According to one embodiment, each of the first, second and third force resisting members includes an outer base, an inner base and a pillar, the outer base and the inner base each having a sleeve cooperating by mating with one of the ends of the pillar and a support flange extending radially from one end of the sleeve.

[0030] According to one embodiment, each end of the pillar is fitted to one of the sleeves. According to another variant, each of the sleeves is fitted to one of the ends of one of the pillars.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the pillars, the outer base, and the inner base are integral with one another.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the support flange of the inner base is fixed to the inner plate.

[0033] According to one embodiment, a support flange of the outer base abuts and is fixed to one of the outer plates.

[0034] According to one embodiment, each of the pillars is fixed to an inner base and an outer base, for example by bonding.

[0035] According to one embodiment, each said pillar is made from a composite material including fibers and a matrix to provide sufficient compressive strength in the confined conductive section.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the fibers may be glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, flax fibers, basalt fibers, or mixtures thereof.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the matrix may be polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyamide, polyoxymethylene, polyetherimide, polyacrylate, polyaryletherketone, polyetheretherketone, copolymers thereof, polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, or polyurethane.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the pillars are made of fiberglass reinforced epoxy resin.

[0039] According to one embodiment, each of said pillars has a tubular portion.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the pillars are at least partially lined with a radiative thermal barrier coating surrounding the pillars.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the radiative thermal barrier coating extends from at least an inner end of the pillar to a multi-layer radiative thermal barrier coating extending perpendicular to the thickness of the wall.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the radiative thermal barrier coating is one of the materials known as single-layer insulation (SLI), consisting of a sheet of polymeric material, e.g., polyimide or polyethylene, coated with a metal, e.g., aluminum, the material having the abbreviation MLI and described above, and a pre-deposition layer comprising a binder and aluminum particulate.

[0043] According to one embodiment, each of the pillars has one or more through holes opening into the interior space of the pillar.

[0044] According to one embodiment, each pillar has an interior space filled with an insulating packing of open-cell type porous material, for example open-cell type polyurethane foam, glass wool, mineral wool, melamine foam, polyester padding, polyurethane-based aerogel, such as those commercially available under the brand Slentite®, and silica aerogel, among others.

[0045] According to an alternative or complementary embodiment, each pillar has an interior space lined with a multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coating made of a multi-layer insulation (MLI) material.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the primary insulating barrier has a pressure of less than 1 Pa, advantageously less than 10 -1 Pa or less, preferably 10 -2 Less than Pa, and e.g. 10 -3 It has a gas phase at an absolute pressure of about Pa. This improves the thermal insulation performance of the primary thermal insulation barrier.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the gas phase in the primary insulating barrier comprises more than 50% by volume, advantageously more than 75% carbon dioxide, when the primary insulating barrier is filled at room temperature, thereby enabling cryopumping to be used to reduce the pressure in the primary insulating barrier, particularly when the liquefied gas stored in the tank is liquid hydrogen.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the primary insulation barrier comprises at least one multi-layer radiative insulation coating extending perpendicular to the thickness of the wall and having openings through which the first, second and third load-bearing members pass.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the multi-layer radiative thermal barrier coating is made of MLI material.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the multi-layer radiant thermal barrier coating comprises a stack of multiple sheets made of metal or metallized polymer, separated from each other by fibrous layers.

[0051] According to one embodiment, said fibrous layer is made from polymeric fibres such as polyester fibres or glass fibres.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the metal or metal coating is aluminum or silver.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the sheet-like polymeric material is polyimide or poly(ethylene terephthalate).

[0054] According to one embodiment, the multi-layer radiant thermal barrier coating is positioned in a plane closer to the primary sealing membrane than the secondary sealing membrane, thereby optimizing the efficiency of the multi-layer radiant thermal barrier coating. In fact, placing the multi-layer radiant thermal barrier coating on the coldest side of the temperature gradient reduces the emissivity of each of its layers. Moreover, such a placement of the multi-layer radiant thermal barrier coating ensures that most of the elements exposed to a temperature higher than that of the primary sealing membrane do not emit radiant flux directly onto the primary sealing membrane.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the primary thermal barrier comprises several multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coatings, each having an opening through which the first, second and third load-bearing members pass and extending perpendicular to the thickness of the wall.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the primary thermal barrier comprises two multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coatings, preferably spaced 30mm to 160mm apart.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the primary thermal barrier comprises thermal insulation elements with an Orpencell type porous structure arranged between the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating and the secondary sealing membrane, which further improves the thermal insulation performance of the primary thermal insulation barrier. These thermal insulation elements limit the flow of heat through the primary thermal insulation barrier, especially when the pressure inside the barrier is higher than a certain pressure value. Furthermore, these thermal insulation elements further reduce the temperature of the thermal insulation barrier zone in which the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating is located, thereby improving its efficiency. Finally, these thermal insulation elements also limit the heat flow by convection through the thermal insulation barrier.

[0058] In embodiments where the thermal barrier comprises several of the multi-layer radiative thermal barrier coatings, the insulating element of porous structure is advantageously located between the outermost multi-layer radiative thermal barrier coating and the secondary sealing membrane.

[0059] According to one embodiment, these insulating elements may be glass wool, mineral wool, polyester wadding, or open-cell polymer foams, such as open-cell polymer foams and melamine foams.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the primary sealing membrane comprises two layers of corrugated metal sheets laminated together with a spacer element interposed between the two layers, thereby improving the reliability of the primary sealing membrane.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the primary sealing membrane has an additional space interposed between two layers of the primary sealing membrane.

[0062] According to one embodiment, said additional space is evacuated.

[0063] According to another embodiment, said additional space is connected to an inerting device comprising an inert gas tank, preferably containing helium.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the secondary insulating barrier comprises an insulating panel anchored to the load-bearing structure.

[0065] According to one embodiment, each insulating panel comprises a layer of insulating polymer foam sandwiched between inner and outer boards, the layer being made, for example, from a polymer matrix reinforced with plywood or fibers, such as fiberglass.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the inner plate of the insulation panel is fitted with a metal plate intended to fasten the edges of the corrugated metal sheet of the secondary sealing membrane to the insulation panel.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the secondary sealing membrane includes a first series of corrugations having first parallel corrugations and a second series of corrugations having second parallel corrugations.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the first and second corrugations in the secondary sealing membrane respectively protrude outwardly towards the load-bearing structure, and the insulating panel of the secondary insulating barrier has two series of mutually perpendicular slots intended to correspondingly receive the first and second corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane.

[0069] According to another embodiment, the first and second corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane project inwardly, away from the load-bearing structure.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the insulation panel of the secondary insulation barrier has stress relief slots opening onto an inner surface of the insulation panel, each stress relief slot being positioned opposite one of the first corrugations or the second corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the invention also relates to a sealed, insulated tank comprising a plurality of said walls.

[0072] In one embodiment, the liquefied gas is liquid hydrogen.

[0073] The tank can be fabricated using a variety of techniques, particularly for forming an integral membrane tank.

[0074] Such tanks may be part of onshore storage facilities or may be installed on coastal or deep water floating vessels, in particular liquid-hydrogen transport vessels, floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), floating production storage and discharge (FPSO) units. Such tanks may also be used as fuel tanks on ships of any kind.

[0075] According to one embodiment, a vessel used for transporting liquefied gas has a double hull and said tank is arranged within said double hull.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a transportation system for liquefied gas, comprising said vessel and an insulated pipe arranged to connect said tank installed in the hull of said vessel to an onshore or floating storage facility.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the transport system also comprises a pump driving the flow of liquefied gas through the insulated pipe to the tanks of the vessel, or from the tanks of the vessel to the onshore or floating storage facility, or from the onshore or floating storage facility to the tanks of the vessel.

[0078] According to one embodiment the invention provides a method of loading or unloading on board a vessel, according to which liquefied gas is transferred through insulated pipes from an onshore or floating storage facility to said tanks of said vessel, or from said tanks of said vessel to said onshore or floating storage facility.

[0079] The invention can be better understood in the following detailed description of some specific embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which further objects, details, features and advantages are more clearly indicated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0080] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective cross-sectional view of a load-bearing structure intended to carry a closed, insulated storage tank for liquefied gas. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a wall of the sealed heat-insulating tank according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the secondary insulating barrier of the wall in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the secondary insulating barrier and secondary sealing membrane of the wall in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the secondary insulation barrier of the wall in FIG. 2, partially illustrating an anchoring arrangement for securing the primary insulation barrier of a load-bearing member to the secondary insulation barrier. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the secondary insulation barrier of the wall, the secondary and primary insulation barrier load-bearing members of the sealing membrane of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the wall of FIG. 2 showing the secondary insulating barrier, the secondary sealing membrane, and the load-bearing members of the primary insulating barrier. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the wall of FIG. 2 showing the secondary thermal barrier, secondary sealing membrane, load-bearing members of the primary thermal barrier, and the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 8, also showing an inner plate for carrying the primary sealing membrane. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to another modified embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tank on board a ship and a loading / unloading terminal for this tank. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to another modified embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to another modified embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to another modified embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0081] For convenience, the terms "outer" and "inner" are used to define the relative position of one element to another, with respect to the inside and outside of the tank.

[0082] The liquefied gas stored in the tank may in particular be liquid hydrogen, in particular stored at about -253°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0083] FIG. 1 shows a load-bearing structure 1 to which a closed, insulated storage tank for liquefied gas is intended to be fixed.

[0084] The load-bearing structure 1 may in particular be made of self-supporting metal sheets or, more generally, of any kind of rigid partition with suitable mechanical properties. The load-bearing structure 1 is formed, for example, by the double hull of a ship. In FIG. 1, the load-bearing structure 1 has an overall polyhedral shape. The load-bearing structure configuration includes two front and rear load-bearing walls 2, which in this case are octagonal, of which only the rear load-bearing wall 2 is illustrated. The front and rear load-bearing walls 2 are, for example, the ship's closing walls and extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ship. The load-bearing structure 1 also has an upper load-bearing wall 3, a lower load-bearing wall 4 and lateral load-bearing walls 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

[0085] The wall 11 of the sealed, insulated tank according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 2 to 9. The wall 11 has a multi-layer structure including, from the outside to the inside in the thickness direction of the wall 11, a secondary insulating barrier 12, a secondary sealing membrane 13, a primary insulating barrier 14, and a primary sealing membrane 15 intended to come into contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.

[0086] The secondary insulating barrier 12 is shown in FIG. 3. It comprises a number of insulating panels 16 secured to the load-bearing structure 1. Each of the insulating panels 16 comprises a layer of insulating polymer foam 17 sandwiched between an inner plate 18 and an outer plate 19, for example a plywood plate bonded to said layer of insulating polymer foam 17. According to one variant, the inner plate 18 and the outer plate 19 are made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres, such as glass fibres. The insulating polymer foam may in particular be a polyurethane-based foam. The polymer foam is advantageously reinforced using fibres, for example glass fibres, thereby helping to reduce thermal contraction.

[0087] The insulation panel 16 is fixed to the load-bearing structure 1 by means of secondary anchoring devices (not shown). The insulation panel 16 is fixed, for example, at least at each of its four corners. Each secondary anchoring device comprises a pin welded to the load-bearing structure 1 and a load-bearing member fixed to said pin and bearing against a load-bearing area of ​​the insulation panel 16. According to one embodiment, the outer plate 19 of the insulation panel 16 protrudes beyond the insulating polymer foam 17 at least at the corners of the insulation panel 16 and forms a load-bearing area of ​​the insulation panel 16 cooperating with the load-bearing member of the secondary anchoring device. Advantageously, elastic members such as Belleville washers are screwed onto the pins, between nuts attached to the pins and the load-bearing members, thereby ensuring elastic anchoring of the insulation panel 16 on the load-bearing structure 1.

[0088] Advantageously, the mastic part 20 is interposed between the outer plate 19 of the insulation panel 16 and the load-bearing structure 1. The mastic part 20 therefore serves to compensate for surface irregularities of the load-bearing structure 1. According to an advantageous variant embodiment, the mastic part 20 adheres to the outer plate 19 of the insulation panel 16 and to the load-bearing structure 1. The mastic part 20 thus serves to fasten the insulation panel 16 to the load-bearing structure 1. In such a variant embodiment, a secondary anchoring device is optional.

[0089] The insulation panels 16 have a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and are juxtaposed in parallel rows spaced apart from one another by gaps 21 that provide assembly clearance. The gaps 21 are filled with a heat-resistant filler (not shown), such as, for example, glass wool, mineral wool, or Orpencel-type flexible polymer foam. These gaps can also be filled with insulation plugs, as described, for example, in WO 2019 / 155157 or WO 2021 / 028624.

[0090] In the embodiment shown, the inner surface of the insulation panel 16 has two mutually perpendicular series of slots 22 intended to receive the corrugations 24 formed in the corrugated metal sheet 25 of the secondary sealing membrane 13 and projecting towards the outside of the tank. Each series of slots 22 is parallel to two opposite sides of the insulation panel 16. In the embodiment shown, the slots 22 penetrate the entire thickness of the inner plate 10 and penetrate the inner part of the insulating polymer foam 17. Advantageously, the slots 22 are shaped to fit the corrugations 24 of the secondary sealing membrane 13.

[0091] Furthermore, a metal plate 26 is attached to the inner plate 18 of the insulation panel 16 for fixing the edge of the corrugated metal sheet 25 of the secondary sealing membrane 13 to the insulation panel 16. The metal plate 26 extends in two parallel perpendicular directions on two opposing sides of the insulation panel 16. The metal plate 26 is fastened to the inner plate 18 of the insulation panel 16 by using, for example, screws, rivets or staples. The metal plate 26 is positioned in a recess formed in the inner plate 18 so that the inner surface of the metal plate 26 is flush with the inner surface of the inner plate 18.

[0092] Furthermore, the insulating panel 16 has stress relief slots 27 which reduce its stiffness so that the secondary insulating barrier 12 deforms as uniformly as possible. This ensures that the deformation of the corrugations 24 in the secondary sealing membrane 13 is as uniform as possible. Advantageously, the insulating panel 16 has stress relief slots 27 at least opposite each of the corrugations 24 of the secondary sealing membrane 13. Thus, as shown for example in FIG. 3, a stress relief slot 27 extends from the bottom of each of the slots 22 towards the outer plate 19 of the insulating panel 16. According to one optional variant, the insulating blocks 16 also have stress relief slots opening on the outer face of the insulating panel 16. Such a stress relief slot is not arranged opposite a corrugation 24 of the secondary sealing membrane 13, but is arranged midway between two parallel corrugations 24.

[0093] 4, the secondary sealing membrane 13 further comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets 25, each of which is generally rectangular. The corrugated metal sheets 25 are made of, for example, Invar®, i.e., typically 1.2×10 -6 and 2×10 -6 K -1 An alloy of iron and nickel with an expansion coefficient between 0.01 and 0.1, typically 7 x 10 -6 K -1 The corrugated metal sheet 25 is made of an alloy of iron with a high manganese content having an expansion coefficient of about 0.1 mm. Alternatively, the corrugated metal sheet 25 may be made of stainless steel or aluminum.

[0094] The corrugated metal sheets 25 are lap welded along their edges to seal the secondary sealing membrane 13. Furthermore, the corrugated metal sheets 25 are offset relative to the insulation panels 16 of the secondary insulation barrier 12, such that each of the corrugated metal sheets 25 extends across and connects several adjacent insulation panels 16. To anchor the secondary sealing membrane 13 to the secondary insulation barrier 12, the edges of the corrugated metal sheets 25 are welded to metal plates 26, for example by spot welding.

[0095] The secondary sealing membrane 13 has corrugations 24, more specifically a first series of corrugations 24a extending parallel to a first direction and a second series of corrugations 24b extending parallel to a second direction. The directions of the corrugations 24a, 24b of each series are perpendicular to each other. The corrugations 24a, 24b of each series are parallel to two opposite edges of the corrugated metal sheet 25. The corrugations 24 then protrude towards the outside of the tank, i.e. towards the load-bearing structure 1. The secondary sealing membrane 13 has a number of flat areas 28 between the corrugations 24.

[0096] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the corrugations 24 in the corrugated metal sheet 25 seat within the slots 22 formed in the inner surface of the insulation panels 16 and within the gaps 21 formed between adjacent insulation panels 16.

[0097] Additionally, each of the flat areas 28 of the secondary sealing membrane 13 is traversed by a primary anchoring device 29, which is shown in detail in FIG. 5 and is intended to secure a load-bearing member 30 of the primary insulation barrier 14 to an insulation panel 16 of the secondary insulation barrier 12. The primary anchoring device 29 has a pin 31 that passes through the secondary sealing membrane 13. The pin 31 has an outer end that is fastened to one of the insulation panels 16. To accomplish this, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer end of each pin 31 is threaded into a threaded bushing 32 that is fastened into a hole in one of the inner plates 18 of the insulation panel 16. Additionally, the pin 31 includes a flange 33 that extends radially relative to the axis of the pin 31.

[0098] The flange 33 is seal welded to the secondary sealing membrane 13 around the opening in the secondary sealing membrane 13 through which the pin 31 passes to maintain the seal of the secondary sealing membrane 13 .

[0099] Additionally, the outer plate 34, also shown in Figure 5, has an opening through which the pin 31 passes. The primary anchoring device 29 includes a nut 35 that is screwed onto the threaded inner end of the pin 31, thereby holding the outer plate 34 against the flat area 28 facing the secondary sealing membrane 13. The outer plate 34 has a dual functionality. First, it allows the secondary sealing membrane 13 to be pressed against the insulating panel 16 of the secondary insulating barrier 12, thereby preventing said membrane from being torn by excessive pressure in the secondary insulating barrier 12 against the primary insulating barrier 14. Second, it allows the fixing of the load-bearing members 30 of the primary insulating barrier 14, which will be described in more detail below.

[0100] An outer plate 34 is advantageously in contact with the corresponding flat area 28 over more than 70% of the surface area of ​​said flat area 28, and even more advantageously over a value between 90% and 100% of said surface area.

[0101] The outer panels 34 are made of a metal, such as, for example, stainless steel, but may also be made of a composite material, such as, for example, fiberglass-filled epoxy.

[0102] As shown in Figure 7, the primary insulating barrier 14 comprises a number of load-bearing members 30 extending in the thickness direction of the wall 11. The load-bearing members 30 support the primary sealing membrane 15 and thus absorb stresses caused by hydrostatic and dynamic pressures exerted on the primary sealing membrane 15 by the liquefied gas contained in the tank. The load-bearing members 30 are aligned parallel to the direction of the corrugations in the first series of corrugations 24a and parallel to the direction of the corrugations in the second series of corrugations 24b.

[0103] Each load-bearing member 30 has an outer base 36, an inner base 37, and a pillar 38 extending between the outer base 36 and the inner base 37. The outer base 36 and the inner base 37 each have a sleeve 39 into which one end of the pillar 38 fits, and a support flange 40 extending radially from one end of the sleeve 39. In one alternative embodiment, both the sleeve 39 of the outer base 36 and the sleeve 39 of the inner base 37 are fitted to the pillar 38.

[0104] The outer base 36 and the inner base 37 may be made of a metal, such as stainless steel, or a composite material, for example a fiberglass-filled epoxy resin. The outer base 36 and the inner base 37 may be fixed to the pillar 38 by any means, in particular by gluing.

[0105] According to another variant embodiment, the pillars 38, the outer base 36 and the inner base 37 are integral with one another, for example by moulding.

[0106] The pillars 38 are tubular and preferably have a circular cross section. According to an advantageous embodiment, the pillars 38 are made of a composite material including fibers and a matrix. Such pillars 38 provide satisfactory compressive strength for limited conduction, which limits the heat conduction from the outside to the inside of the tank through the pillars 38. The fibers may be, for example, glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, flax fibers, basalt fibers, or mixtures thereof. The matrix may be, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyamide, polyoxymethylene, polyetherimide, polyacrylate, polyaryletherketone, polyetheretherketone, copolymers thereof, polyester, vinylester, epoxy, or polyurethane. According to one specific embodiment, the pillars 38 are made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin.

[0107] Advantageously, the pillars 38 are provided with through holes (not shown) that facilitate the decompression of their internal space when the primary insulating barrier 14 is decompressed, as will be described below. Furthermore, the internal space of the pillars 38 is advantageously filled with a gas-permeable insulating packing, in particular an Opencell type porous material, for example an Opencell type insulating polymer foam, for example an Opencell type polyurethane foam, glass wool, mineral wool, melamine foam, polyester wadding, and for example a polyurethane-based aerogel, in particular those commercially available under the brand Slentite®, or polymer aerogels, such as silica aerogels.

[0108] Alternatively or additionally, the interior space may also include a multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating made of a multi-layer insulation material (MLI) as described below, intended to reduce heat loss due to thermal radiation.

[0109] Each of the support flanges 40 of the outer base 36 is fixed to one of the outer plates 34. As shown in Figure 6, each support flange 40 of the outer base 36 is fixed to the outer plate 34, for example by means of rivets 41 distributed around the axis of the load-bearing member 30.

[0110] 9, each of the support flanges 40 of the inner base 37 abuts and is fixed to an inner plate 42, which is made of a metal such as, for example, stainless steel. The support flanges 40 of the inner base 37 are fixed to the inner plate 42, for example, by means of rivets 43 distributed around the axis of the load-bearing member 30.

[0111] In this manner, the load-bearing members 30 are not rigidly connected to one another and form separate support structures which mutually support the flat areas 46 of the primary sealing membrane 15 ensuring satisfactory stress distribution between the corrugations 45 of the primary sealing membrane 15.

[0112] 2, the primary sealing membrane 15 is also obtained by assembling a plurality of corrugated metal sheets 44. Each corrugated metal sheet 44 is substantially rectangular. The corrugated metal sheets 44 are, for example, made of Invar®, i.e., 1.2×10 -6 K -1 and 2 × 10 -6 K -1 or typically 7×10 -6 K -1 The corrugated metal sheet 44 is generally constructed of an alloy of iron having a high manganese content having an expansion coefficient of about 1000 .ANG. Alternatively, the corrugated metal sheet 44 may be made of stainless steel or aluminum.

[0113] The corrugated metal sheet 44 is lap welded along its edges to seal the primary sealing membrane 15. The primary sealing membrane 15 has corrugations 45. More specifically, the sealing membrane has a first series of corrugations 45a extending parallel to a first direction and a second series of corrugations 45b extending parallel to a second direction. The directions of the corrugations 45a, 45b of the series are orthogonal and parallel or orthogonal to the row of load-bearing members 30. Each of the corrugations 45a, 45b of the series is parallel to two opposite edges of the corrugated metal sheet 44. The corrugations 45 protrude towards the inside of the tank, i.e. away from the load-bearing structure 1. Each corrugated metal sheet 44 has a number of flat areas 46 between the corrugations 45.

[0114] The pitch of the corrugations 24 of the secondary sealing membrane 13 is equal to the pitch of the corrugations 45 of the primary sealing membrane 15, or an integer multiple thereof. Furthermore, each of the corrugations 24 of the secondary sealing membrane 13 is disposed opposite a corrugation 45 of the primary sealing membrane 15 in the thickness direction of the wall 11. Thus, each flat area 46 of the primary sealing membrane 15 faces a flat area 28 of the secondary sealing membrane 13 in the thickness direction of the wall 11. Thus, the axis of each load-bearing member 30 passes through both the center of the flat area 46 of the primary sealing membrane 15 and the center of the flat area 28 of the secondary sealing membrane 13.

[0115] Advantageously, each inner plate 42 contacts a corresponding flat area 46 of the primary sealing membrane 15 over an area greater than 70% of the surface area of ​​said flat area 46, advantageously between 90% and 100% of said surface area.

[0116] The corrugated metal sheet 44 of the primary sealing membrane 15 is fixed to the inner plate 42 at least along its edges by welding. For this purpose, the edges of the corrugated metal sheet 44 are welded to the inner plate 42, for example by spot welding. According to an advantageous embodiment, the corrugated metal sheet 44 is anchored to the inner plate 42 also outside its edge area. For this purpose, the corrugated metal sheet 44 can be welded to the inner plate 42, in particular by caulking welding. According to an advantageous embodiment, the corrugated metal sheet 44 is welded to each of the inner plates 42 which support said sheet. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous in that it allows the stresses to be distributed more uniformly between the corrugations 45 of the primary sealing membrane 15.

[0117] Furthermore, the primary insulating barrier 14 has a gas phase with a negative pressure, i.e. an absolute pressure below atmospheric pressure, in order to provide the primary insulating barrier 14 with the necessary insulating properties. The gas phase in the primary insulating barrier 14 is advantageously at a pressure below 1 Pa, advantageously below 10 -1 Pa or less, preferably 10 -2 Less than Pa, e.g. 10 -3The pressure is of the order of 100 Pa absolute. To this end, the primary insulating barrier 14 is advantageously connected to a vacuum pump.

[0118] According to an advantageous embodiment, cryopumping is used as an alternative or complement to the aforementioned vacuum pumps to achieve the reduced pressure target in the primary insulating barrier 14. Also, prior to the depressurization, the primary insulating barrier 14 is filled with an inert gas having an anti-sublimation temperature higher than the liquefaction temperature of the liquefied gas stored in the tank. For example, if the liquefied gas stored in the tank is liquid hydrogen, the inert gas can be carbon dioxide. Thus, considering the temperature of hydrogen in the liquid state, the carbon dioxide contained in the primary insulating barrier 14 serves to reduce the pressure therein by anti-sublimating therein.

[0119] In addition to being depressurized, the primary insulating barrier 14 includes a thermal insulation material that further enhances its insulating properties. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the primary insulating barrier 14 comprises a multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 that helps to reduce heat transfer by thermal radiation. The multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 typically consists of a multi-layer thermal insulation (MLI) material. The multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 thus comprises a stack of sheets made of either a metal, for example aluminum or silver, or a metal-coated polymeric material, said sheets being separated from each other by layers of woven or non-woven fabric made of polymeric fibers, such as polyester or glass fibers. The plastic sheets are made of, for example, polyimide, in particular commercially available under the trade name Kapton®, or poly(ethylene terephthalate), in particular commercially available under the trade name Mylar®. These thin sheets are coated on both sides with a metal, for example aluminum or silver.

[0120] As shown in Figure 8, the multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coating 47 has openings through which the pillars 38 of the load-bearing members 30 pass. Advantageously, the multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coating 47 is located at the coldest portion of the primary thermal insulation barrier 14. In other words, the multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coating 47 is positioned in a plane parallel to the secondary sealing membrane 13 and the primary sealing membrane 15, but closer to the primary sealing membrane 15 than to the secondary sealing membrane 13. This improves the efficiency of the multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coating 47 by being located in the coldest area of ​​the primary thermal insulation barrier 14, thereby reducing the emissivity of each of those layers.

[0121] The multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 is secured, in this example, to the pillars 38 of the load-bearing member 30 by means of, for example, bonding or a pair of hook-and-loop fastening strips, where one strip is associated with the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47, for example by sewing or bonding, and the other strip is adhered to one of the pillars 38.

[0122] Figure 10 shows a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to a second embodiment. This embodiment differs from the embodiment described above in connection with figures 2 to 9 in that the corrugations 24 of the secondary sealing membrane 13 do not protrude to the outside, i.e. towards the load-bearing structure 1, but to the inside, i.e. away from the load-bearing structure 1.

[0123] Figure 11 shows a wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to a third embodiment. This embodiment differs from the embodiment described above with reference to figures 2 to 9 in that the primary sealing membrane 15 has two layers 48, 49 of corrugated metal sheets 44 laminated on top of each other. This makes the sealing function redundant and increases the reliability of the primary sealing membrane 15.

[0124] Each of the two layers 48, 49 of the corrugated metal sheet 44 has a structure similar to that of the primary sealing membrane 15 described above with reference to Figure 2. The corrugations 45 of the two layers 48, 49 are arranged with the same pitch and are positioned opposite each other in the thickness direction of the wall 11.

[0125] Furthermore, spacer elements (not shown) of a certain thickness are interposed between the two layers 48, 49 so that the distance between them remains substantially constant. Such spacer elements are, for example, arranged in the flat area 46 of the corrugated metal sheet 44. Each spacer element is fixed to the inner plate 42, for example by an anchoring device (not shown) penetrating the layer 48. Furthermore, the edges of the corrugated metal sheet 44 of the layer 49 are fixed, for example by welding, to anchor plates (not shown) which are fixed to or formed by the spacer elements. According to an embodiment, the spacer elements are made of a heat-conducting material, in particular a metal such as stainless steel. This limits the temperature difference between the two layers 48, 49 of the primary sealing membrane 15 and therefore the influence of these two layers on the dynamics of the cryopump inside the primary insulating barrier 14.

[0126] According to one embodiment, the gas phase in the additional space 50 interposed between the two layers 48, 49 of the primary sealing membrane 15 is decompressed, i.e. reduced to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. The gas phase in the additional space 50 is advantageously decompressed to a pressure of 10 -1 Pa or less, preferably 10 -2 Less than Pa, e.g. 10 -3 An absolute pressure of the order of Pa is applied to the additional space 50. For this purpose, the additional space 50 is connected to a vacuum pump.

[0127] According to another embodiment, the additional space 50 is flushed with an inert gas, for example helium, which has a lower liquefaction temperature than hydrogen, thus preventing the inert gas from condensing in the additional space 50. For this purpose, the installation comprises an inert gas tank associated with an inert circuit connected to the additional space 50 and to a gas analyzer configured to detect the presence of, for example, hydrogen, in the gas stored in the tank, for example in the inert gas flowing in the additional space 50. Thus, by flushing in an inert gas, leaks in the layer 49 of the primary sealing membrane 15 can be detected.

[0128] 12 shows the wall of a sealed, insulated tank according to a fourth embodiment. This embodiment differs from the above-mentioned embodiments in that the primary insulating barrier 14 further comprises an insulating element 51 having an Open Cell type porous structure arranged between the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 and the secondary sealing membrane 13.

[0129] Such a thermal insulation element 51 has several functions. Firstly, it further reduces the temperature in the area of ​​the primary thermal insulation barrier 14 where the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 is located, thus further improving its efficiency. Secondly, it also serves to limit the degradation of the thermal insulation performance in case the pressure in the primary thermal insulation barrier 14 is higher than the pressure value determined for the single use of the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47. Indeed, the above-mentioned multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 is typically used for a period of 10 -3 It provides good insulation performance at low pressures below 100 Pa, but its performance decreases when the pressure exceeds the above-mentioned threshold. Such pressure conditions are particularly likely to occur when the seal in the primary sealing membrane 15 or the secondary sealing membrane 13 is lost, thereby decreasing the negative pressure inside the primary insulating barrier 14, or when the tank is cooled and the inert gas contained in the primary insulating barrier 14 has not yet completely desublimated, or in the case of a ship's return journey when the tank contains only a heel of liquefied gas. The insulating element 51 also reduces the activation ability of convection in the primary insulating barrier 14. Thirdly, the insulating element 51 constitutes a surface that receives solids from the desublimation of the inert gas or gas contained in the primary insulating barrier 14, thereby limiting the mechanical stresses that may be exerted on the other elements of the wall 11, in particular the load-bearing members 30, the multilayer radiant thermal insulation coating 47, as well as the secondary sealing membrane 13 and the primary sealing membrane 15.

[0130] The insulating element 51 may be made, for example, from glass wool, mineral wool, polyester wadding, open-cell polymer foam, such as open-cell polyurethane foam, or melamine foam. Advantageously, the insulating element 51 is made from glass wool. The insulating element 51 is advantageously packaged in the form of a panel with structural strength that allows it to be easily handled.

[0131] 12, the insulating element 51 fills the entire space between the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 and the secondary sealing membrane 13. The secondary insulating barrier also includes one or more retaining members to limit the displacement of the insulating element 51 towards the primary sealing membrane 15, thereby preventing said insulating element from compressing the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 and thereby compromising its performance.

[0132] In this case, the retaining member comprises a fabric retaining layer 52 made of a polymer or glass fiber, for example polyester fiber or glass fiber. The fabric retaining layer 52 is fixed to the load-bearing member 30. This fabric retaining layer 52 can be fixed to the load-bearing member 30 by any means, in particular by bonding. In FIG. 12, the fabric retaining layer 52 is fixed to the load-bearing member 30 first, and then by a flange 53 fixed to the fabric retaining layer 52.

[0133] In such an embodiment, the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 may be secured to the fabric retention layer 52 by means of evenly distributed bonding areas, seams or staples, thereby reducing thermal bridging due to heat transfer by eliminating the need to secure the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 directly to the load-bearing member 30. This also ensures accurate positioning of the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47, limits creasing therein and ensures its retention, especially when pressure levels within the primary insulation barrier 14 are uneven and when there is overpressure between the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 and the secondary sealing membrane 13.

[0134] According to a variant embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the retaining member is formed by a flange 54 fixed to the load-bearing member 30 and against which the inner surface of the insulating element 51 bears.

[0135] In the variant embodiment in Fig. 13, the thickness of the insulating element 51 is smaller than the distance between the secondary sealing membrane 13 and the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47 in the thickness direction of the wall 11. In other words, there is an open space between the insulating element 51 and the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47. This helps to reduce the amount of insulating element 51 used and thus the cost of the tank without deteriorating too much the insulating performance of the primary insulating barrier 14, especially when the pressure inside the primary insulating barrier 14 is higher than the specified pressure value.

[0136] Figure 15 shows another possible embodiment, which differs from the embodiment described above in relation to figure 10 in that it comprises several multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coatings 47, 55. In the variant shown, the primary thermal insulation barrier 14 comprises two multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coatings 47, 55 arranged at a distance from each other in the thickness direction of the wall. According to an exemplary embodiment, the two multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coatings 47, 55 are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the wall by a distance of 30 mm to 160 mm. The presence of several multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coatings 47, 55 further reduces the heat transfer by thermal radiation.

[0137] According to this embodiment, each of the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coatings 47, 55 comprises a number of portions that are fastened to one another by fastening means 56, such as hook-and-loop fastener strips. Moreover, advantageously, the fastener strips of the two multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coatings 47, 55 are offset from one another, i.e., not positioned between two rows of similar load-bearing members 30, in order to limit thermal bridging.

[0138] Figure 16 shows another embodiment. Like the embodiment of Figure 15, the primary insulation barrier 14 comprises two multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coatings 47, 55 spaced apart from each other in the wall thickness direction. However, the primary insulation barrier 14 further comprises an insulation element 57 with an Open Cell type porous structure arranged between the most extreme multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 55 and the secondary sealing membrane 13. Such an insulation element 57 has the same function as the insulation element 51 described with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

[0139] The insulating element 57 may be made, for example, from glass wool, mineral wool, polyester wadding, open-cell polymer foam, such as open-cell polyurethane foam, or melamine foam. Advantageously, the insulating element 57 is made from glass wool. The insulating element 57 is advantageously packaged in the form of a panel that provides structural strength that allows easy handling.

[0140] Figure 17 illustrates another embodiment, which differs from the embodiment described in relation to Figure 10 in that each of the pillars 38 of the load-bearing member 30 is at least partially coated with a radiative thermal insulation coating 58 surrounding said pillars 38. Such a radiative thermal insulation coating 58 limits the absorption by the pillars of radiation reflected from the multi-layer radiative thermal insulation coating 47.

[0141] The radiant thermal insulation coating 58 extends from at least the inner end of the pillar 38 to the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating 47. Advantageously, the radiant thermal insulation coating 58 extends to the outer end of the pillar 38. The radiant thermal insulation coating 58 may be bonded or directly adhered to the pillar. Alternatively, said radiant thermal insulation coating may be fixed between the inner base 37 and the outer base 36. In an embodiment not shown, the radiant thermal insulation coating 58 is pressed and / or fixed to the fabric retainer layer 52 as shown in FIG. 12, or pressed and / or fixed to the flange 54 as shown in FIG. 13. The radiant thermal insulation coating 58 is one of the materials called single layer insulation (SLI), and includes, for example, a sheet of a polymeric material such as polyimide or polyethylene coated with a metal such as aluminum, and a material abbreviated as MLI and described above, and a layer previously laminated on the pillar 37 including a binder and aluminum particulates.

[0142] 14, a cross-section of a vessel 70 shows a sealed, insulated tank 71 with a full prismatic shape mounted in a double hull 72 of the vessel. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary sealing membrane designed to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank, preferably liquid hydrogen, a secondary sealing membrane arranged between said primary sealing membrane and the double hull 72 of the vessel, and two insulating barriers arranged between the primary sealing membrane and the secondary sealing membrane, and between the secondary sealing membrane and the double hull 72, respectively.

[0143] In a known manner, a loading / unloading pipe 73 located on the upper deck of the vessel can be connected, using suitable connectors, to an offshore or port terminal for transferring a cargo of liquefied gas to or from the tank 71.

[0144] In FIG. 14 an example of a marine terminal with a loading / unloading point 75, an undersea line 76 and an onshore facility 77 is shown. The loading / unloading point 75 is a fixed onshore facility consisting of a movable arm 74 and a column 78 that holds the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated hoses 79 that can be connected to a loading / unloading pipe 73. The orientable movable arm 74 can be adapted to all sizes of hydrogen carriers. A connecting line (not shown) extends inside the column 78. The loading / unloading point 75 allows loading / unloading of the hydrogen carrier 70 to / from the onshore facility 77. The facility has a liquefied gas storage tank 80 and a connecting line 81 that is connected to the loading / unloading point 75 via the undersea line 76. The undersea line 76 allows the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading / unloading point 75 and the onshore facility 77 over long distances, for example 5 km, which allows the hydrogen carrier vessel 70 to be far from shore during loading and unloading operations.

[0145] To generate the pressure required to transport the liquefied gas, pumps on board the vessel 70 and / or pumps installed at the loading / unloading point 75 and / or pumps installed at the onshore facility 77 may be used, or the pressure increase in the internal space of the tank caused by evaporation of the liquefied gas stored in the tank may be allowed to occur.

[0146] Although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific embodiments, it is clear that the invention is in no way limited thereto, and that all technical equivalents of the described means and combinations thereof, provided that the conditions are met, are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

[0147] Use of the terms "comprise" or "include" and their conjugations does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps in addition to those stated in a claim.

[0148] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as construing as limiting the claim.

[0149] It will be more generally apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the above embodiments in reference to the above disclosure. In the following claims, the terms used should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims to the embodiments described herein, but should be interpreted as including all equivalents that are within the scope of the common knowledge of those skilled in the art, intended to be encompassed by the language of the claims.

Claims

1. A wall (11) for an insulated storage tank for liquefied gas, comprising: The wall (11) comprises, successively in the thickness direction, a secondary insulating barrier (12) attached to the load-bearing structure (1), a secondary sealing membrane (13) attached to the secondary insulating barrier (12), a primary insulating barrier (14) attached to the secondary sealing membrane (13), and a primary sealing membrane (15) attached to the primary insulating barrier (14) and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the insulated storage tank; the primary sealing membrane (15) has a first series of corrugations (45) with first corrugations parallel to one another and a second series of corrugations (45b) with second corrugations parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first corrugations; the primary sealing membrane (15) has a plurality of flat regions (46) each defined between two adjacent first corrugations and between two adjacent second corrugations; The primary insulating barrier (14) has a first series of load-bearing members fixed to the secondary insulating barrier (12) in a direction parallel to the first corrugations and extending in the thickness direction, the first series including at least a first load-bearing member (30), a second load-bearing member (30), and a third load-bearing member (30) in succession; The first force-resisting member (30), the second force-resisting member (30), and the third force-resisting member (30) are fixed to a first inner plate (42), a second inner plate (42), and a third inner plate (42), respectively; The plurality of flat regions (46) include a first flat region, a second flat region, and a third flat region that are welded to the first inner plate (42), the second inner plate (42), and the third inner plate (42), respectively, successively in a direction parallel to the first corrugation.

2. 2. The wall (11) of claim 1, wherein the first inner panel, the second inner panel, and the third inner panel contact more than 70% of the surface area of ​​the first flat region (46), the second flat region (46), and the third flat region (46), respectively.

3. 3. The wall (11) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the primary sealing membrane (15) comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets (44), each having an edge that is lap-welded to an edge of an adjacent corrugated metal sheet (44), and the first flat area (46), the second flat area (46), and the third flat area (46) are formed by two of the edges of two adjacent corrugated metal sheets (44).

4. the primary insulating barrier (14) has at least a second series of load-bearing members fixed to the secondary insulating barrier (12) and extending through the thickness of the wall (11), the second series including a fourth load-bearing member, a fifth load-bearing member, and a sixth load-bearing member; the fourth, fifth, and sixth force-resisting members are aligned in a direction parallel to the first corrugation and are fixed to the fourth, fifth, and sixth inner plates, respectively; the fourth force-resisting member, the fifth force-resisting member, and the sixth force-resisting member are aligned along the first force-resisting member, the second force-resisting member, and the third force-resisting member, respectively, in a direction parallel to the second corrugation; The wall (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of flat regions include a fourth flat region, a fifth flat region, and a sixth flat region provided for the fourth inner plate, the fifth inner plate, and the sixth inner plate, respectively.

5. 5. The wall (11) of claim 4, wherein the fourth, fifth, and sixth flat regions are welded to the fourth, fifth, and sixth inner plates, respectively.

6. the first force-resisting member (30), the second force-resisting member (30), and the third force-resisting member (30) are fixed to the first outer panel (34), the second outer panel (34), and the third outer panel (34), respectively; 6. The wall (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the first outer panel (34), the second outer panel (34), and the third outer panel (34) is fixed to a secondary insulating barrier (12) and presses the secondary sealing membrane (13) towards the secondary insulating barrier (12).

7. the secondary sealing membrane (13) comprises a first series of corrugations (24a) having first corrugations parallel to one another and a second series of corrugations (24b) having second corrugations parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first corrugations; the secondary sealing membrane (13) has a plurality of flat regions (28) each defined between two adjacent first corrugations and between two adjacent second corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane (13); 7. The wall (11) of claim 6, wherein each of the first outer panel (34), the second outer panel (34), and the third outer panel (34) is pressed against one of the flat areas (28) of the secondary sealing membrane (13).

8. 8. The wall (11) according to claim 7, wherein the first series of corrugations (24a) and the second series of corrugations (24b) of the secondary sealing membrane (13) are opposite the first series of corrugations (45a) and the second series of corrugations (45b) of the primary sealing membrane (15) in the thickness direction, respectively.

9. each of the first outer panel (34), the second outer panel (34), and the third outer panel (34) is secured to the secondary insulating barrier (12) by a primary anchoring device (29); the primary anchoring device (29) is secured to an insulating panel (16) of the secondary insulating barrier (12) and includes a pin (31) that passes through an opening in the secondary sealing membrane (13) and an opening in any one of the first outer panel (34), the second outer panel (34), and the third outer panel (34); the pin (31) is welded to the secondary sealing membrane (13) around the opening in the secondary sealing membrane (13) and has a radially extending flange (33); 9. The wall (11) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the primary anchoring device (29) further comprises a nut (35) threaded onto the pin (31) to hold the first outer plate (34), the second outer plate (34) or the third outer plate (34) against the secondary sealing membrane (13).

10. Each of the first force-resisting member (30), the second force-resisting member (30), and the third force-resisting member (30) includes an outer base (36), an inner base (37), and a pillar (38); The wall (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the outer base (36) and the inner base (37) each have a sleeve (39) which cooperates by fitting onto one of the ends of the pillar (38), and a support flange (40) which extends radially from one end of the sleeve (39).

11. 11. The wall (11) according to claim 10, wherein each pillar (38) is made of a composite material comprising fibers and a matrix.

12. 12. A wall (11) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein each pillar (38) has a tubular portion.

13. A wall (11) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the pillars (38) are at least partially lined with a radiant thermal barrier coating (58) surrounding the pillars (38).

14. A wall (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary insulating barrier (14) has a gas phase with an absolute pressure of less than 1 Pa.

15. 15. The wall (11) of claim 14, wherein the primary thermal insulation barrier (14) includes at least one multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating (47, 55) having openings through which the first, second, and third load-bearing members (30) pass and extending perpendicular to the thickness of the wall (11).

16. 16. The wall (11) of claim 15, wherein the multi-layer radiant thermal insulation coating (47, 55) comprises a stack of multiple sheets of metal or metallized polymer separated from one another by fabric layers.

17. 17. The wall (11) of claim 16, wherein the primary thermal barrier (14) comprises an insulating element (51) having an open-cell porous structure disposed between the multi-layer radiant thermal barrier coating (47, 55) and the secondary sealing membrane (13).

18. 18. The wall (11) according to claim 17, wherein the insulating element (51) is glass wool, mineral wool, polyester wadding, or open-cell polymer foam.

19. 19. A wall (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the primary sealing membrane (15) comprises two layers (48, 49) of corrugated metal sheets (44) laminated together, with a spacer element interposed between the two layers (48, 49).

20. A wall (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary insulating barrier (12) comprises insulating panels (16) secured to the load-bearing structure (1).

21. A sealed, insulated tank comprising a plurality of walls (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. 22. A ship (70) used for transporting liquefied gas, the ship (70) having a double hull (72) and a tank (71) according to claim 21 arranged inside the double hull.

23. 23. A transfer system for liquefied gas, said system comprising a vessel (70) according to claim 22 and an insulated pipe (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull of said vessel to an onshore or floating storage facility (77).

24. 23. A method for loading or unloading liquefied gas onto or from a vessel (70) as claimed in claim 22, wherein the liquefied gas is transferred from an onshore or floating storage facility (77) to the tank (71) of the vessel (70) or from the tank (71) of the vessel (70) to the onshore or floating storage facility (77) through an insulated pipe (73, 79, 76, 81).

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