Modular block for a tank wall

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular block (30) for constructing a sealed and thermally insulating tank wall, the modular block comprising: a first insulating layer made of polymer foam, a second insulating layer covering a first portion of the first insulating layer, a cover plate covering the second insulating layer, a support panel covering a second portion of the first insulating layer, wherein the support panel comprises a non-metal central block covered with a metal plate, wherein the metal plate is fastened against an inner surface of the central block, and wherein the support panel carries an anchoring device (50) for a pipe (99), wherein the anchoring device comprises a metal base welded to the metal plate and a retaining member for the pipe, and wherein the base spaces the retaining member from the metal plate in the thickness direction of the modular block.

Description

MODULAR BLOCK FOR TANK WALL

[0001] The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulated tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquefied gas at low temperature, such as tanks for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -163°C at atmospheric pressure. Technological background

[0002] A watertight and thermally insulated tank with an integrated membrane within a load-bearing structure is known, exhibiting a substantially polyhedral internal surface. Such a tank comprises multiple walls, each consisting, in a given thickness direction, of a secondary insulation barrier, a secondary waterproof membrane, a primary insulation barrier, and a primary waterproof membrane. The tank walls are designed to support various pipes. To accommodate these pipes, the tank walls must include anchoring supports adapted to the pipes they are intended to support.

[0003] Document WO2017174938A1, for example, discloses an anchoring device for anchoring pipes to a vertical load-bearing wall. The anchoring device comprises a base that is fixed to the load-bearing wall and extends through the thickness of the vertical waterproof and thermally insulating wall from the load-bearing wall to the primary waterproof membrane. One end of the base, opposite the load-bearing wall, comprises a metal plate and a guide flange associated with a pipe.

[0004] The technical difficulty in pipe anchoring supports for sealed and thermally insulated tanks lies particularly in the fact that the anchoring supports must be strong enough to support the pipes without damaging the tank wall and must also minimize thermal bridges in order to preserve the thermal insulation properties of the tank.

[0005] One idea behind the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0006] Another idea underlying the invention is to create a modular block with a robust anchoring device to preserve the thermal insulation capabilities of the modular block.

[0007] Another idea underlying the invention is to create a sealed and thermally insulating tank wall with a pipe anchoring device to preserve the thermal insulation capabilities of the tank wall.

[0008] Another idea underlying the invention is to create a tank that allows a pipe extending along a ceiling wall to be anchored between the angle of the tank formed by the ceiling wall and the adjacent transverse wall and an opening made in the ceiling wall that protrudes from the primary waterproof membrane towards the outside of the tank.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a modular block for constructing a watertight and thermally insulating tank wall, the modular block comprising, along a thickness direction of the modular block: a first thermally insulating layer of polymer foam, a second thermally insulating layer covering a first portion of the first thermally insulating layer, a cover plate covering the second thermally insulating layer, in which a support panel covers a second portion of the first thermally insulating layer, the support panel comprising a non-metallic central block covered with a metallic plate, in which the metallic plate is fixed against an internal surface of the central block, the support panel carrying an anchoring device for anchoring a pipe to the modular block,in which the anchoring device comprises a metal base welded to the metal plate and a retaining element suitable for retaining the pipeline, the base spacing the retaining element from the metal plate along the thickness direction of the modular block. Preferably, the modular block comprises a base plate, the first thermally insulating layer of polymer foam being supported by the base plate.

[0010] Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to create a watertight and thermally insulating tank wall incorporating such a modular block. This allows for the support of a pipe in a flat area of ​​the wall while minimizing thermal bridging.

[0011] Depending on the embodiment, such a modular block may include one or more of the following characteristics.

[0012] According to one embodiment, a secondary waterproof membrane made of composite material is located between the first thermally insulating layer and the second thermally insulating layer, such that the first thermally insulating layer forms a secondary insulating barrier element and the second thermally insulating layer forms a primary insulating barrier element, the secondary waterproof membrane covering the first thermally insulating layer.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the secondary waterproof membrane comprises a laminated waterproof film having a metallic foil sandwiched between two layers of resin-coated glass fibers.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the central block has a thickness similar to the second thermally insulating layer.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the central block has orifices that pass completely through the central block in a thickness direction of the central block, in which the metal plate is fixed against an internal surface of the central block by rods projecting from an external surface of the metal plate through the orifices of the central block and by fastening elements that hold the rods in tension in the orifices of the central block.

[0016] Thus, when mechanical forces are subjected to the anchoring device and are therefore transferred to the metal plate of the support panel, the metal plate remains firmly held by the fasteners.

[0017] In one embodiment, each of the openings in the central block is located near a corner of the central block. This allows for a better distribution of the tensile forces exerted on the metal plate.

[0018] In one embodiment, the central block has four openings, each located near a corner of the central block, and the metal plate has four metal rods that pass through the openings in the central block. This allows for a better distribution of the tensile forces exerted on the metal plate.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the fasteners are bolts.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the metal plate covers the entire internal surface of the central block.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the metal plate has a central pin projecting from the external surface of the metal plate, and in which the central block has a central bore receiving the central pin.

[0022] Thus, the central pin helps to withstand shear forces to protect the metal rods which mainly bear the tensile forces.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the length of the central pin is less than the length of the metal rods of the metal plate.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the diameter of the central pin is greater than the diameter of the metal rods.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the metal plate completely covers the central block.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the metal plate has a thickness of between 5 and 15mm, preferably between 8 and 11mm.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the central block is made of wood.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the central block is a single piece.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the central block has a thickness of between 75 and 90mm, preferably between 80 and 83mm.

[0030] In one embodiment, the central block has the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, preferably a cube. In another embodiment, the central block has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with its four edges extending along the thickness direction and beveled.

[0031] In one embodiment, the support panel comprises a rigid plate fixed to an external surface of the central block. Preferably, this rigid plate is non-metallic. In one embodiment, the rigid plate is made of plywood.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the base has a first end which is welded to the metal plate and a second end of the base located at a distance from the first end on which the retaining device is fixed.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the base includes a foot which has a cross-section in the shape of a T or an X.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the second end of the base comprises a metal plate on which the retaining element is fixed.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the retaining element is fixed to the metal plate via a screw-nut fastening system.

[0036] In one embodiment, the retaining device comprises a clamp for tightening the pipe. In another embodiment, the clamp is metallic.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the first portion of the first thermally insulating layer has a geometric envelope in the shape of a quadrilateral with a rectangular recess, in which the second portion corresponds to the rectangular recess.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the first portion has the shape of a rectangle.

[0039] In one embodiment, the recess is square. Thus, the second portion is square. In a preferred embodiment, the recess is located at a distance from the corners of the geometric envelope.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a sealed and thermally insulating wall intended to be fixed to a load-bearing structure for constructing a storage and / or transport tank for liquefied gas, the sealed and thermally insulating wall comprising: at least one insulating barrier including at least one of the aforementioned modular blocks, a primary metallic sealed membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas, the primary sealed membrane being fixed against the insulating barrier and supported by said insulating barrier, the primary sealed membrane comprising a series of corrugations spaced from each other by flat areas, the primary sealed membrane comprising an opening at the level of a flat area, the opening being traversed by the anchoring device, the primary sealed membrane being hermetically welded to the metal plate of the support panel all around the opening of the primary sealed membrane.

[0041] Thus, the airtight and thermally insulating wall can support a pipe extending along a flat section of the wall. Such a wall also provides excellent mechanical properties for supporting a pipe while minimizing thermal bridging.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the wall, the primary waterproof membrane corrugation series is a first corrugation series, the primary waterproof membrane further comprises a second series of corrugations spaced apart and parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first corrugation series.

[0043] In one embodiment, the liquefied gas is LNG, namely a mixture with a high methane content stored at a temperature of approximately -163°C at atmospheric pressure. Other liquefied gases can also be considered, including ethane, propane, butane, or ethylene. Liquefied gases can also be stored under pressure, for example, at a relative pressure between 2 and 20 bar, and in particular at a relative pressure close to 2 bar.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the wall comprises a plurality of the aforementioned modular blocks.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the wall, the aforementioned modular blocks are adjacent to each other.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the wall, the modular blocks are not adjacent to each other.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the wall comprises a first modular block as mentioned above and a second modular block as mentioned above, the first anchoring device of the first modular block and the second anchoring device of the second modular block being spaced at a distance of between 500 and 2000 mm, and preferably at a distance of about 1000 mm.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a ship for the transport of a liquefied gas, the ship comprising a double hull and a tank disposed in the double hull, the tank comprising at least one of the aforementioned sealed and thermally insulating walls.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the watertight and thermally insulating wall is a ceiling wall of the tank.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the ceiling wall of the tank is connected to an internal tooling space which projects from the ceiling wall outwards from the tank, the internal tooling space being intended to receive pipes, for example loading and unloading pipes for the tank, in which the tank further comprises a watertight and thermally insulating transverse wall which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ship, and in which the modular block is disposed between the transverse wall and the internal tooling space.

[0051] More specifically, the internal tooling space is an opening allowing communication between the internal space of the tank and a space extending to the upper deck of the ship.

[0052] In one embodiment, the ceiling wall supports a first fluid spray pipe, for example, a liquefied gas pipe. In another embodiment, the ceiling wall supports a second fluid spray pipe. For this purpose, in one embodiment, a liquefied gas spray pipe is attached to the retaining device.

[0053] These fluid spray lines can, for example, allow liquid nitrogen to be injected into the tank to lower its temperature before injecting LNG.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the first or second pipe which is supported by the support panel has an outside diameter of approximately 60mm.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the first or second pipe which is supported by the support panel has a thickness of approximately 5mm.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a liquefied gas, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged to connect the vessel's tank to a floating or land-based storage facility, and a pump to drive a flow of liquefied gas through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a vessel, in which a liquefied gas is conveyed through insulated pipelines from or to a floating or land-based storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.

[0058] The tank can be made using different techniques, including as an integrated membrane tank or a self-supporting tank.

[0059] Such a tank can be part of an onshore storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or be installed in a floating structure, whether coastal or deep-water, including an LNG carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and storage unit (FPSO), and others. Such a tank can also serve as a fuel tank in any type of vessel. Brief description of the figures

[0060] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] Laillustre a partial, perspective view of a sealed and thermally insulating tank wall, according to a first embodiment.

[0062] The illustration shows a partial view similar to the one in which the primary waterproof membrane and part of the insulation have been omitted.

[0063] Laillustre a perspective view of a modular block suitable for constructing the watertight and thermally insulating tank wall according to the first embodiment.

[0064] Laillustre an exploded perspective view of a support panel according to an embodiment.

[0065] Laillustrates a perspective view of the external surface of a metal plate belonging to the support panel, according to the embodiment of the.

[0066] Laillustre a perspective view of the anchoring device, according to the first embodiment.

[0067] This is a schematic view of a load-bearing structure intended to receive a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to an embodiment.

[0068] Laillustre a view along arrow VIII of the, from inside the tank, showing a ceiling wall of a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to an embodiment.

[0069] Laillustrate a partial view from inside the tank, in perspective of an area located between an internal tooling space and a transverse wall of a sealed and thermally insulating tank, according to an embodiment.

[0070] This is a schematic cutaway representation of a tank on a methane tanker and a terminal for loading and unloading this tank.

[0071] By convention, the terms "external" and "internal" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another, by reference to the inside and outside of the tank.

[0072] In relation to figures 1 to 6, a sealed and thermally insulating wall is described, intended to be fixed to a load-bearing structure to construct a storage and / or transport tank for liquefied gas.

[0073] The sealed and thermally insulating wall 20 comprises a multilayer structure including a secondary thermally insulating barrier 31 resting against a load-bearing structure (not shown), a secondary sealed membrane 34 resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 31, a primary thermally insulating barrier 35 resting against the secondary sealed membrane 34 and a primary sealed membrane 21 intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.

[0074] The liquefied gas intended to be stored in the tank may in particular be a liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is to say a gaseous mixture consisting mainly of methane as well as one or more other hydrocarbons.

[0075] The primary waterproof membrane, for example, is made of stainless steel.

[0076] The primary waterproof membrane 21 comprises a first series of corrugations having first corrugations 24 parallel to each other and a second series of corrugations 25 having second corrugations parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first corrugations, the primary waterproof membrane comprising a plurality of flat areas 22 which are each defined between two adjacent first corrugations 24 and between two adjacent second corrugations 25.

[0077] Wall 20 comprises a plurality of modular blocks of general parallelepiped shape fixed to the load-bearing structure.

[0078] The different elements of wall 20 will be described in more detail below.

[0079] A common modular block 91 of the wall 20 comprises, in a manner known per se as partially visible on the, from the outside to the inside: a first thermally insulating layer 32 having for example the form of a secondary insulating panel of parallelepiped shape and forming part of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 31, a portion of secondary waterproof membrane 34 covering the secondary insulating panel 32, a second thermally insulating layer 37 having for example the form of a primary insulating panel of parallelepiped shape and forming part of the primary thermally insulating barrier 35, which rests on the portion of secondary waterproof membrane 34.

[0080] The primary insulating panel 37 further comprises metal plates 97 onto which the primary waterproof membrane 21 is welded, as well as relaxation slots 96. This primary insulating panel 37 has dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the secondary insulating panel 32 so as to leave a peripheral edge of the portion of secondary waterproof membrane 34 exposed.

[0081] To form the tank wall 20, prefabricated modular blocks are placed side by side in a regular pattern on the supporting structure. The continuity of the secondary waterproof membrane 34 is ensured by waterproof connecting strips (not shown) joining the peripheral edges of the portions of the secondary waterproof membrane 34 of the adjacent prefabricated modular blocks. In addition, intermediate insulating panels (not shown) are arranged between the primary insulating panels 37 of the modular blocks to complete the primary thermally insulating barrier 35 and form a flat support surface for the primary waterproof membrane 21.

[0082] The secondary insulating panel 32 is, for example, made from a block of polymer foam 33, for example polyurethane. Such a secondary insulating panel 32 made from a block of polymer foam 33 may further comprise a rigid backing plate 36, for example made of plywood.

[0083] The primary insulating panel 37 is, for example, made of polyurethane foam blocks 38. Such a primary insulating panel 37 made of polyurethane foam blocks 38 may further include a rigid cover plate 39, for example made of plywood.

[0084] Furthermore, the secondary waterproof membrane portion 34 of the prefabricated blocks is preferably formed by a rigid laminated waterproof film comprising a metal foil sandwiched between two layers of resin-coated glass fibers. The waterproof bonding strip, mainly located under the insulating interlayer panels of the primary thermally insulating barrier 35, connecting the peripheral edges of the secondary waterproof membrane portions 34 of adjacent standard modular blocks 91, is, for example, formed by a flexible laminated waterproof film comprising a metal foil sandwiched between two layers of unresin-coated glass fibers, for example, a flexible waterproof film known as Triplex®.

[0085] As an example, such tanks formed from common modular blocks are described in patent applications WO2015197638 or FR2691520.

[0086] The 30 modular blocks are special modular blocks that allow, among other things, the anchoring of a 99 pipeline, such as a liquefied gas spray pipeline as seen in the image. The 99 pipeline allows liquid nitrogen to be injected into the tank to lower its temperature before LNG is injected.

[0087] The modular blocks 30, as seen in particular in Figures 1, 2 and 3, differ from the standard modular blocks 91 in that the primary insulating panel 37 has a rectangular recess 98 so as to leave a portion of the secondary waterproof membrane 34 exposed. The particular modular block 30 also includes a support panel 40 which is housed in the recess 98 and which covers the portion of the secondary waterproof membrane 34.

[0088] The support panel 40 has the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with beveled side edges.

[0089] The support panel 40 is further detailed on the figure. The support panel comprises a central block 42, preferably made of wood, which has an external surface that is fixed against a rigid plywood plate 41 and an internal surface entirely covered with a metal plate 43.

[0090] The central block 42 has four openings 49 located near the corners of the central block 42. The openings 49 pass completely through the central block 42 along the thickness direction Y of the central block 42. The metal plate 43 has four rods 44 that project from an external surface of the metal plate 43 and pass through the four openings 49 of the central block 42. The metal plate 43 is attached to the central block 42 by means of washers 45 and bolts 46 that are mounted on each of the rods 44.

[0091] The central block 42 further includes a central bore 47 located in the center of the central block 42 receiving a central pin 48, shown in the figure, which protrudes from the center of the external surface of the metal plate 43.

[0092] The bore 47 does not pass through the entire central block 42, and the central pin 48 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the rods 44. The central pin 48 allows the shear forces to be absorbed, thus limiting the shear forces experienced by the rods. Therefore, the rods 44 do not experience shear forces and instead absorb the tensile forces.

[0093] The support panel 40 also carries an anchoring device 50 which allows the pipe 99 to be anchored. The anchoring device 50 passes through the primary waterproofing membrane 21 at a cutout 23 made in a flat area 22 of the primary waterproofing membrane 21, as illustrated at two flat areas 22 in the figure. The primary waterproofing membrane 21 is welded watertight all around this cutout 23 to the metal plate 43 in order to maintain the watertightness of the primary waterproofing membrane 21.

[0094] The anchoring device 50 comprises a T- or X-shaped metal base 51, which is particularly visible in Figures 1, 2, and 6. The metal base 51 has a first end 52 welded to the metal plate 43 and a second end comprising a metal plate 53 to which a clamp 54 surrounding the pipe 99 is attached. The clamp 54 is preferably metallic and is fixed to the metal plate 53 of the metal base 51 by means of fasteners, for example, a screw and nut type.

[0095] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate two support panels 40, which are contained within two adjacent modular blocks 30. The two support panels 40, and therefore the two anchoring devices 50, are spaced approximately 1000 mm apart. This spacing allows the pipeline 99, which extends through the wall over a considerable distance, to be supported. This prevents damage to the pipeline, which, under the effects of gravity, the passage of fluid through it, or thermal contraction, can bend and thus be damaged.

[0096] Such a wall is intended to be contained within a sealed and thermally insulating tank.

[0097] Generally speaking, a sealed and thermally insulated tank for the storage and transport of a cryogenic fluid, such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), comprises multiple tank walls, each with a multilayer structure. From the outside in, each tank wall consists of a secondary thermally insulating barrier resting against a load-bearing structure, a secondary airtight membrane resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier resting against the secondary airtight membrane, and a primary airtight membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained within the tank.

[0098] An example of a load-bearing structure suitable for receiving such a tank is shown in Figure 1. A load-bearing structure 1 is shown, designed to receive the walls of a watertight and thermally insulating tank. The load-bearing structure 1 is formed by the internal hull of a ship. The load-bearing structure 1 has a generally polyhedral shape. The load-bearing structure 1 has transverse walls 2, typically forward and aft, here octagonal in shape. In Figure 1, the forward transverse wall 2 is only partially shown to allow visualization of an internal space 9 of the load-bearing structure 1. The transverse walls 2 are cofferdam walls of the ship and extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ship. The load-bearing structure 1 also includes a top wall 3, a bottom wall 4, and side walls 5.The upper wall 3, the lower wall 4 and the side walls 5 extend along the longitudinal direction of the ship and connect the transverse walls 2 forward and aft.

[0099] The upper wall 3 has, near the rear transverse wall 2, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped space projecting upwards, called a dome 6. The dome 6 delimits an opening 7 in the upper wall 3 allowing the passage of liquid transfer lines and gas transfer lines to or from the tank when it is mounted in the supporting structure 1.

[0100] The load-bearing walls 2, 3, 4, 5 of the supporting structure have an internal surface 10 delimiting the internal space 9 in which the tank is housed. The tank comprises a plurality of tank walls, each tank wall being anchored to a respective load-bearing wall 2, 3, 4, 5 of the supporting structure 1.

[0101] The wall illustrated with figures 8 and 9 is a ceiling wall 120 of a sealed and thermally insulated tank installed in the load-bearing structure of the.

[0102] The ceiling wall 120 is fixed to the upper wall 3 of the load-bearing structure illustrated on the.

[0103] Laillustre a view from below, from inside the tank, of the ceiling wall 120 at the level of zone I of the, that is to say at the level of the angle formed by the transverse wall of cofferdam 2 and the upper wall 3.

[0104] The ceiling wall 120 is connected to an internal tooling space 107 which projects from the primary sealing membrane 121 towards the outside of the tank, into the dome 6. The perimeter of the internal tooling space 107 is delimited by metal corner pieces 92.

[0105] The internal tooling space 107 is spaced from the cofferdam corner of the tank. The cofferdam corner here refers to the junction between a sealed and thermally insulating transverse wall of the tank, which is fixed to the transverse wall 2, and the ceiling wall 120, which is fixed to the upper wall 3. The spacing between the cofferdam corner and the internal tooling space 107 is at least two modular blocks.

[0106] The ceiling wall 120 comprises two special modular blocks 30 with two support panels 40 spaced apart and each located between the cofferdam corner and the internal tooling space 107. The special modular blocks 30 each support a spray pipe 99. The two spray pipes 99 extend around the perimeter of the ceiling wall, up to the internal tooling space 107. More precisely, each of the spray pipes 99 comprises: a lengthwise portion that runs along the ceiling wall 120 near the corner formed by the upper wall 3 and a side wall 5, a widthwise portion that runs along the cofferdam corner, and a depth portion that extends to the internal tooling space 107.Such an arrangement is advantageous when the construction of the load-bearing structure 1 and the sealed and thermally insulating tank is such that the dome 6 is offset from the transverse wall 2 and the internal tooling space 107 is therefore away from the cofferdam angle.

[0107] Laillustre en plus détail une zone IX de la, au niveau de l’angle de cofferdam forme par la tranque 95 waterproof et thermalement insulating qui est fixe à la tranque de cofferdam 2 et la pier de plafond 120.

[0108] It is illustrated more precisely with only one of the two particular modular blocks 30 of the and therefore only one support panel 40.

[0109] Figure 1 illustrates one of the two pipelines 99. The width portion is fixed to corner metal pieces 93 via anchor devices 94. The depth portion is fixed via an anchor device 50 carried by a support panel 40 which is located between the cofferdam corner and the internal tooling space 107 in order to support the pipeline 99. The depth portion also runs along the contour of the internal tooling space 107 and is fixed at said contour to corner metal pieces 92, via anchor devices 94. The distance between the anchor device 50 of the support panel 40 and the anchor device 94, adjacent to the anchor device 50 and carried by the corner metal piece 92, is approximately 1.7 m.

[0110] Corner metal pieces 93 and 92 are solid metal structures that are directly connected to the load-bearing wall.

[0111] According to another embodiment, the tank wall comprises a secondary metallic membrane, as illustrated for example in patent document WO2019234360A2. In this case, the anchoring device can be supported in the same way by a primary insulating panel.

[0112] The illustration shows a ship comprising a tank for the construction of which at least one particular modular block or wall mentioned above can be used, for example the watertight and thermally insulating wall 20 or 120. The watertight and thermally insulating wall 20 or 120 comprises at least one modular block 30 equipped with at least one support panel 40 intended to locally support a portion of piping.

[0113] With reference to the diagram, a cutaway view of a LNG carrier 70 shows a watertight and thermally insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the vessel. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary watertight membrane intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary watertight membrane arranged between the primary watertight membrane and the double hull 72 of the vessel, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary watertight membrane and the secondary watertight membrane and between the secondary watertight membrane and the double hull 72.

[0114] As is known per se, loading / unloading pipelines 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of suitable connectors, to a marine or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG to or from the tank 71.

[0115] Figure 75 represents an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading berth 75, a subsea pipeline 76, and an onshore facility 77. The loading and unloading berth 75 is a fixed offshore facility comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 that supports the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 that can be connected to the loading / unloading pipelines 73. The steerable movable arm 74 accommodates all LNG carrier sizes. An unshown connecting pipeline extends inside tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the onshore facility 77. This facility includes liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipelines 81 linked by the subsea pipeline 76 to the loading or unloading station 75.The subsea pipeline 76 allows the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore facility 77 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which allows the LNG carrier 70 to be kept a long distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0116] To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps equipping the land installation 77 and / or pumps equipping the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

[0117] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is clearly evident that it is by no means limited to them and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0118] The use of the verb "comporter", "comprendre" or "include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those stated in a claim.

[0119] In claims, any reference sign in parentheses shall not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

Modular block for constructing a watertight and thermally insulating tank wall, the modular block (30) comprising, along a thickness direction of the modular block: a first thermally insulating layer (33) of polymer foam, a second thermally insulating layer (38) covering a first portion of the first thermally insulating layer, a cover plate (39) covering the second thermally insulating layer, in which a support panel (40) covers a second portion (98) of the first thermally insulating layer, the support panel comprising a non-metallic central block (42) covered with a metal plate (43), in which the metal plate is fixed against an internal surface of the central block, the support panel carrying an anchoring device (50) for anchoring a pipe (99) to the modular block,in which the anchoring device comprises a metal base (51) welded to the metal plate and a retaining element (54) capable of retaining the pipeline, the base spacing the retaining element from the metal plate along the thickness direction of the modular block. Modular block according to claim 1, wherein a secondary waterproof membrane (34) of composite material is located between the first thermally insulating layer and the second thermally insulating layer, such that the first thermally insulating layer forms a secondary insulating barrier element (31) and the second thermally insulating layer forms a primary insulating barrier element (35), the secondary waterproof membrane covering the first thermally insulating layer. Modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the central block has orifices (49) passing completely through the central block in a thickness direction (Y) of the central block, wherein the metal plate is fixed against an internal surface of the central block by rods (44) projecting from an external surface of the metal plate and passing through the orifices of the central block and by fastening elements (45, 46) which hold the rods in tension in the orifices of the central block. Modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the metal plate covers the entire internal surface of the central block. Modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metal plate has a central pin (48) projecting from the external surface of the metal plate, and wherein the central block has a central bore (47) receiving the central pin. Modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the central block is made of wood. Modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the base comprises a foot which has a cross-section having the shape of a T or an X. Modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the retaining element comprises a clamping collar for tightening the pipe. Modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first portion of the first thermally insulating layer has a geometric envelope in the shape of a quadrilateral having a rectangular recess, wherein the second portion corresponds to the rectangular recess. A watertight and thermally insulating wall intended to be fixed to a load-bearing structure for constructing a liquefied gas storage and / or transport tank, the watertight and thermally insulating wall (20, 120) comprising: at least one insulating barrier (31, 35) including at least one modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a primary metallic watertight membrane (21) intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas, the primary watertight membrane being fixed against the insulating barrier and supported by said insulating barrier, the primary watertight membrane comprising a series of corrugations spaced from each other by flat areas (22), the primary watertight membrane comprising an opening (23) at the level of a flat area, the opening being traversed by the anchoring device, the primary watertight membrane being hermetically welded to the metal plate of the support panel all around the opening of the primary watertight membrane. Vessel (70) for the transport of a liquefied gas, the vessel comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) disposed in the double hull, the tank comprising at least one watertight and thermally insulating wall according to claim 10. Vessel according to claim 11, wherein the watertight and thermally insulating wall is a ceiling wall of the tank. Vessel according to claim 12, wherein the ceiling wall of the tank is connected to an internal tooling space projecting from the ceiling wall outwards from the tank, the internal tooling space being intended to receive pipes, wherein the tank further comprises a watertight and thermally insulating transverse wall which is transverse to a longitudinal direction of the vessel, and wherein the modular block is disposed between the transverse wall and the internal tooling space. Vessel according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising a liquefied gas spray pipeline attached to the retaining device. Transfer system for a liquefied gas, the system comprising a vessel (70) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the vessel's tank (71) to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) and a pump to drive a flow of liquefied gas through the insulated pipelines from or to the floating or land-based storage facility to or from the vessel's tank. Method of loading or unloading a ship (70) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein a liquefied gas is conveyed through insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or land-based storage facility (77) to or from the tank (71) of the ship (70).

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