Sealed and thermally insulating tank and ship comprising such a tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) for storing a liquefied gas, comprising at least a first wall (50) and a second wall (52), adjoining one another, each of the first and second walls (50, 52) comprising at least one thermally insulating barrier (22, 26) and at least one sealing membrane (24, 28), each sealing membrane (24, 28) having a first series of corrugations (56) and a second series of corrugations (58), the sealed and thermally insulating tank wall further comprising at least one junction member (66) capable of at least partially connecting the sealing membrane (24, 28) of the first wall (50) and the sealing membrane (24, 28) of the second wall (52), in particular the first and second series of corrugations (56, 58) of the first wall (50) to the first series of corrugations (56) or to the second series of corrugations (58) of the second wall (52).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title of the invention: WATERPROOF AND THERMALLY INSULATED TANK AND VESSEL CONTAINING SUCH A TANK

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of leak-proof and thermally insulated tanks. In particular, the invention relates to the field of leak-proof and thermally insulated tanks for the storage and / or transport of a liquefied gas, such as liquid hydrogen, which is at approximately -253°C at atmospheric pressure. These tanks can be installed on land or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank can be used for transporting liquefied gas or for using the liquefied gas as fuel for propelling the floating structure.

[0004] In the prior art, as described, for example, in document FR3050008, sealed and thermally insulated tanks for storing liquefied gas are known. Such a tank generally comprises a plurality of walls, each consisting of a multilayer structure, including at least one thermally insulating barrier attached to a load-bearing structure and a sealing membrane resting against a thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank. The sealing membrane notably comprises a mesh arranged in a first series of corrugations and a second series of corrugations, one or both of which are diverted from the first wall to the second tank wall.

[0005] One of the main difficulties is that in a tank of the aforementioned type, the tank walls are subjected to numerous and uneven stresses. In particular, the walls are subjected to compressive forces related to the tank's loading, thermal stresses during cooling, and stresses related to the dynamic shocks of the fluid inside the tank due to the phenomenon of "sloshing" or fluid sloshing during transport at sea. These stresses are particularly pronounced in the tank's corner areas, which are therefore more vulnerable.

[0006] One idea underlying the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned problems by improving the current tank arrangement so as to make the tank walls more resistant to sloshing while reducing overall costs, particularly by decreasing the requirements for materials and labor. To this end, the invention proposes a sealed and thermally insulated tank for storing a liquefied gas comprising at least one first wall and a second wall contiguous and each extending respectively in a first plane and a second plane, said first and second planes intersecting at at least one edge, each of the first and second walls comprising, along a wall thickness direction, at least one thermally insulating barrier and at least one sealing membrane resting against the thermally insulating barrier.and each sealing membrane having a first series of corrugations extending in a first direction and a second series of corrugations extending in a second direction, the first direction intersecting the second direction, characterized in that the sealed and thermally insulating tank wall for storing a liquefied gas further comprises at least one connecting element capable of connecting at least partially the sealing membrane of the first wall and the sealing membrane of the second wall, and the connecting element being capable of connecting the first and second series of corrugations of the first wall to the first series of corrugations or to the second series of corrugations of the second wall.

[0007] The joining element thus makes it possible to divert one or more undulations from one wall to the other wall, thereby ensuring a continuity of undulation in the corner area of ​​the tank.

[0008] This connecting element also makes it possible to do without a wave closing piece such as known in the prior art and allowing to stop the undulations at the end of the wall, i.e. at the level of the edge.

[0009] Furthermore, reducing the number of wave closure pieces also improves the flexibility of the sealing membrane in areas close to the edges.

[0010] Areas near the edges are defined as areas located at the junction of two adjacent walls of the tank.

[0011] The first series of undulations is understood to be a plurality of undulations oriented along a first direction, and the second series of undulations is understood to be a plurality of undulations oriented along a second direction.

[0012] Since the two directions intersect, they create an arrangement or "mesh" of the tank wall organized in a grid pattern. In one particular embodiment, the grid formed by the first and second series of undulations can take the form of contiguous rectangles with sides of nearly equal length and area. This configuration allows for a nearly homogeneous arrangement, also called a "wave pattern," on at least two adjacent walls, or even on all the walls forming the tank.

[0013] An almost homogeneous arrangement is one which has almost identical mesh sizes on two adjacent walls, that is to say, there is almost no difference between the surface area of ​​a rectangle on one face and that of another belonging to the mesh of the adjacent face.

[0014] This grid-like arrangement, including in the corner area of ​​the tank, is made possible by the integration of the joining element on one or the other of the wall sealing membranes.

[0015] Indeed, the joining element ensures continuity between the undulations present on the sealing membrane of a first tank wall and the undulations present on the sealing membrane of a second adjacent tank wall.

[0016] The junction element also makes it possible to increase the rate of waves deflected from one wall to another compared to the use of the corrugation closure pieces as previously mentioned and known.

[0017] Such a joining piece allows a grid by the first and second undulations whose inter-undulation space is closer compared to the known mesh of the prior art and thus obtain almost identical mesh sizes on two adjacent walls and approaching a square shape.

[0018] Another advantage of this arrangement with an almost homogeneous wave pitch made possible by the use of the junction element is to maintain the mechanical resistance of the sealing membrane of a tank wall against impacts caused by the sloshing phenomenon.

[0019] The invention finds a preferred application in a tank in which the thermally insulating barrier comprises at least one load-bearing element having at least one pillar and a plate attached to one end of the pillar. In such a case, the sealing membrane is fixed to the inner plate. The reduction in mesh size made possible by the use of the connecting element allows for a reduction in the size of the plates to which the pillars are attached, making the pillars less susceptible to mechanical deformation under liquid impact (sloshing) in the tank. It follows that the use of the connecting element indirectly allows, by ensuring continuity between the corrugations to reduce the mesh size, the damping of the impacts related to sloshing exerted on the sealing membranes in the tank's corner zone.In other words, the use of the joining element placed at the point of meeting between a first and a second wall helps to limit the sloshing phenomenon which is more significant in this corner area.

[0020] Furthermore, the use of the joining element placed at the meeting point between a first and a second wall makes it possible to limit the use of closing pieces as currently known in this area and which cause stresses exerted in the corner area during the thermal contraction of the sealing membrane.

[0021] Furthermore, in an embodiment where the load-bearing element is made in the form of a pillar, this arrangement of the connecting element thus makes it possible to require a smaller quantity of pillars in the corner area of ​​the tank.

[0022] In this embodiment, the use of the connecting element reduces the number of load-bearing elements, particularly the number of pillars required to support the inter-corrugation spaces, thereby lowering the production costs of the sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank. More specifically, the connecting element reduces the number of pillars by between 10% and 15% compared to a sealed and thermally insulated tank of the prior art.

[0023] According to an optional feature of the invention, the connecting element comprises at least one main branch and at least one first secondary branch and at least one second secondary branch, the main branch being adapted to allow continuity with the first or second series of corrugations of the second wall, and the first and second secondary branches being adapted to allow continuity with the first and second series of corrugations of the first wall. According to an optional feature of the invention, the main branch and the first and second secondary branches project from a platform, in particular a metallic platform.

[0024] The metal platform is in contact with the sealing membrane. A particular embodiment provides for the sealing membrane to be suitable for direct contact with the liquefied gas.

[0025] According to an optional feature of the invention, the main branch of the joining member extends so as to cover at least part of the first series of corrugations or the second series of corrugations of the sealing membrane of the second wall; and the first secondary branch extends so as to cover at least part of the first series of corrugations of the sealing membrane of the first wall, and the second secondary branch extends so as to cover at least part of the second series of corrugations of the sealing membrane of the first wall.

[0026] According to an optional feature of the invention, an angle piece is able to cover at least part of the ends of the first and second walls extending towards the edge, the angle piece covering at least part of the edge.

[0027] According to an optional feature of the invention, the corner piece has at least one projection suitable for extending the main branch of the joining member.

[0028] According to an optional feature of the invention, the corner piece is contiguous with the joining piece.

[0029] According to an optional feature of the invention, the corner piece contributes to the continuity of the undulations in the corner area of ​​the tank.

[0030] According to an optional feature of the invention, at least one deflection member is interposed between two connecting members, said deflection member being able to connect in particular the first series of undulations of the first wall to the first series of undulations of the second wall or the second series of undulations of the first wall to the second series of undulations of the second wall.

[0031] In other words, here, one out of every two undulations of the first series of undulations belonging to the sealing membrane of the first wall or to the sealing membrane of the second wall is diverted towards the other sealing membrane of the adjacent wall by means of this diverting device.

[0032] The undulation which is not deflected by the deflection member mentioned above, is deflected according to the invention by the joining member.

[0033] Thus, the sealing membranes have, particularly in the edge area, an alternation of at least one deflection element followed by a joining element, both capable of ensuring the continuity of the undulations between the two contiguous walls.

[0034] Similarly, and in a particular embodiment, one out of every two corrugations of the second series of corrugations belonging to either of the sealing membranes is diverted towards the other adjacent sealing membrane by means of at least one diverting device.

[0035] The undulation which is not deflected by means of the deflection member mentioned above of the second series of undulations, is deflected according to the invention by means of the joining member.

[0036] Thus, as mentioned previously, the sealing membranes have, particularly in the edge area, an alternation of at least one deflection element followed by a joining element, both capable of ensuring the continuity of the undulations between the two contiguous walls.

[0037] In summary, all waves belonging to the first series of undulations and all waves belonging to the second series of undulations are deflected from one sealing membrane to the other wall which is contiguous to it, whether through the joining element or the deflection element.

[0038] According to an optional feature of the invention, the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas comprises at least a front wall and a first side wall and a second side wall as well as a bottom wall and a top wall and the joining member is disposed on the sealing membrane of the front wall and / or one of the side walls of said tank, preferably near the corner piece covering the edge, the front wall and the side wall being a first wall and a second wall.

[0039] The invention also relates to a vessel for transporting a liquefied gas, comprising a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank. The invention further relates to a liquefied gas transfer system, comprising a vessel and insulated pipelines arranged to connect the tank installed in the vessel's hull to a floating or land-based storage facility. The invention also relates to a method for loading or unloading a vessel in which a liquefied gas is conveyed through insulated pipelines to or from a floating or land-based storage facility to or from the vessel's tank. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, on the other hand, in which:

[0040] Figure [1] schematically represents a perspective view of a load-bearing structure intended to support a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank.

[0041] Figure [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank wall according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0042] Figure 3 illustrates a view of a corner area of ​​a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank towards which a first wall according to the invention extends.

[0043] Figure 4 schematically represents a corner area of ​​a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank towards which the first and second walls according to the invention extend.

[0044] Figure 5 schematically represents a connecting element according to the invention.

[0045] Figure 6 schematically represents a tank on a ship and a terminal for loading and unloading that tank.

[0046] It should be noted that, throughout the figures, similar elements and / or those performing the same function are indicated by the same numbering. In the following description, a direction of a longitudinal axis L, a direction of a transverse axis T, and a direction of a vertical axis V are represented by a trihedron (L, V, T) in the figures. A horizontal plane is defined as a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of a vessel containing a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied natural gas storage tank; a longitudinal plane is defined as a plane perpendicular to the transverse axis of the vessel; and a transverse plane is defined as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

[0047] 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.

[0048] Figure 1 schematically represents a view of a sealed and thermally insulated tank 1 configured for the transport and / or storage of liquefied gas.

[0049] The sealed and thermally insulated tank can notably be formed of self-supporting metal sheets or, more generally, of any type of rigid partition exhibiting mechanical properties suitable for the transport of liquefied gas such as liquid hydrogen which is at approximately -253°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0050] In Figure 1, the sealed and thermally insulated liquefied natural gas storage tank 1 has a generally polyhedral shape. It has two front walls 2, here octagonal in shape, of which only one of the two front walls 2 is shown. The front walls 2 are, for example, the cofferdam walls of a ship that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ship. The sealed and thermally insulated tank 1 also has an upper wall 4 and a lower wall 6 extending along a longitudinal direction of the ship, as well as side walls 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.

[0051] Figure 2 illustrates a wall 20 intended to be integrated into the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 according to the invention. The wall 20 can be a front wall 2, an upper wall 4, a lower wall 6 or one of the side walls 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.

[0052] In this embodiment, the wall 20 has a multilayer structure comprising, along a thickness direction E of the wall 20, from the outside to the inside of the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 22, a secondary sealing membrane 24 which is corrugated and fixed against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 22, another primary thermally insulating barrier 26, and a primary sealing membrane 28 which is corrugated and fixed against the primary thermally insulating barrier 26. The primary sealing membrane 28 is intended to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas, such as liquid hydrogen, which is intended to be contained in the tank 1.

[0053] The secondary thermally insulating barrier 22 comprises a plurality of insulating panels 30 anchored to the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1.

[0054] The insulating panels 30 each here comprise a layer of insulating polymer foam 32 sandwiched between an inner plate 34 and an outer plate 36. The inner plate 34 and outer plate 36 are, for example, plywood plates glued onto said layer of insulating polymer foam 32. The insulating polymer foam 32 may in particular be a polyurethane-based foam preferably reinforced with fibers.

[0055] The primary thermally insulating barrier 26 comprises a plurality of load-bearing elements 38 extending along the thickness direction E of the wall 20, between the secondary sealing membrane 24 and the primary sealing membrane 28.

[0056] The load-bearing elements 38 each include a pillar 40 of preferably cylindrical shape.

[0057] In a particular embodiment, each pillar 40 is linked at a first end 42 to a first platform 44 via a linking device not shown in Figure 2 and is fixed at a second end 46 to a second platform 48.

[0058] Preferably, the primary sealing membrane 28 is connected, for example welded, at least one flat area located between two pairs of corrugations, against a plate 44.

[0059] One particular embodiment proposes that the primary sealing membrane 28 be linked, for example welded, at each flat area located between two pairs of corrugations, against a particular plate 44.

[0060] The secondary sealing membrane 24 is welded, at each flat area located between two pairs of corrugations, onto plates for example metallic 49 and here, housed and fixed in the second plate 48.

[0061] Pillar 40 is preferably made from a composite material comprising fibers and a matrix. Plates 44 and 48 are preferably metallic, for example, made of stainless steel.

[0062] The arrangement of the plurality of load-bearing elements 38 generally allows the primary sealing membrane 28 to be reinforced by taking up on the one hand the forces due to hydrostatic and dynamic pressures exerted on said primary sealing membrane 24 by the liquefied gas contained inside the tank, and on the other hand the forces due to the aforementioned vacuum conditions.

[0063] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a particular embodiment of the invention where a first wall 50 and a second wall 52 of the sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank 1 are contiguous and may have the aforementioned characteristics.

[0064] In a particular embodiment, it is advantageous that the first wall 50 can be a front wall 2 or a side wall 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18. The second wall 52 can be a front wall 2 if the first wall 50 is a side wall 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 or a side wall 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 if the first wall 50 is a front wall 2.

[0065] The first wall 50 extends in a first plane PI and the second wall 52 extends in a second plane P2, the planes Pl, P2 being intersecting at the level of an edge 54.

[0066] We note here that the first wall 50 and the second wall 52 both extend towards the edge 54. In other words, the edge 54 constitutes a point of junction between the two walls 50, 52.

[0067] Furthermore, each primary sealing membrane 28 of each of the first and second walls 50 and 52 comprises a first series of corrugations 56 and a second series of corrugations 58. The first and second series of corrugations 56, 58 are arranged in a grid pattern.

[0068] The first series of undulations 56 extends along a first direction DI and the second series of undulations 58 extends along a second direction D2.

[0069] In one embodiment, the first direction DI extends perpendicularly to the second direction D2. Advantageously, the first direction DI extends along a longitudinal direction of the ship and the second direction D2 extends along a vertical direction of the ship.

[0070] Figure 3 illustrates the first wall 50 of the sealed and thermally insulating tank and comprising at least one connecting element 66 (illustrated separately in figure 5).

[0071] In the embodiment illustrated here, the connecting member 66 comprises a main branch 68 and a first secondary branch 70 as well as a second secondary branch 72. The main branch 68 and the first and second secondary branches 70, 72 project, in this example, from a platform 74, in particular a metallic platform.

[0072] The connecting element 66 allows a deviation and continuity of the undulations belonging to the first series and the second series of undulation between the first wall 50 and the second wall 52 of the sealed and thermally insulating tank.

[0073] Figure 4 illustrates in detail the mesh of the two walls 50, 52 as illustrated in Figure 3. In Figure 4, the thick solid lines represent the first series of undulations 56 and the thin solid lines represent the second series of undulations 58.

[0074] In the embodiment illustrated here, the connecting member 66 allows continuity between the second series of undulations 58 of the second wall 52 and the first series of undulations 56 and the second series of undulations 58 of the first wall 50.

[0075] In particular, the main branch 68 of the junction member 66 allows continuity with the second series of undulations 58 of the second wall 52 and the first and second secondary branches 70, 72 of the junction member 66 allow continuity with the first series of undulations 56 and the second series of undulations 58 of the first wall 50.

[0076] In another embodiment not shown here, the connecting member 66 could also allow continuity between the first series of undulations 56 of the second wall 52 and the first series of undulations 56 as well as the second series of undulations 58 of the first wall 50.

[0077] The main branch 68 of the connecting member 66 extends so as to cover at least part of the second series of corrugations 58 of the secondary sealing membrane 28 of the second wall 52. Furthermore, the first secondary branch 70 extends so as to cover at least part of the first series of corrugations 56 of the secondary sealing membrane 28 of the first wall 50.

[0078] The second secondary branch 72 extends so as to cover at least in part the second series of undulations 58 of the secondary sealing membrane 28 of the first wall 50.

[0079] The sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank illustrated in figures 3 and 4 also includes an angle piece 64.

[0080] In this particular embodiment, the corner piece 64 covers at least part of the ends of the first and second walls 50, 52 extending towards the edge 54 as well as at least a portion of said edge 54.

[0081] Corner piece 64 may be an additional piece made in the form of an angle bracket. The angle bracket is an angle arrangement suitable for covering at least part of the ends of the first and second waterproofing membranes 50 and 52 in the area of ​​edge 54.

[0082] The angle bracket may include, for example, another sealing membrane welded watertight to the first sealing membrane of the first wall 50 and to the second sealing membrane of the second wall 52. In particular here, the corner piece 64 is disposed on the primary sealing membranes 28 disposed respectively on the first 50 and second 52 contiguous walls and covers at least in part the ends of the respective primary membranes of the first and second walls 50, 52 extending towards the edge 54 as well as at least a portion of said edge 54.

[0083] Corner piece 64 participates in the deflection of the undulations of the first wall 50 towards the second wall 52 through the edge 54 and vice versa.

[0084] In the embodiment illustrated here, the corner piece 64 has at least one projection suitable for extending the main branch of the connecting member 66 to ensure a continuity of corrugation between the first wall 50 and the second wall 52.

[0085] Thus, the undulations are extended into the corner area formed at the edge 54. In this particular embodiment, at least one deflection member 60 is interposed between two connecting members 66. This arrangement ensures that no undulation belonging to the first series of undulations 56 and the second series of undulations 58 is stopped.

[0086] In other words, the combination of the deflection member 60 and the junction member 66 and their alternations allow the continuity of all the undulations of the arrangement on the two contiguous walls.

[0087] Continuing all the undulations of the arrangement makes it possible to obtain an almost homogeneous mesh on the first sealing membrane of the first wall 50 and on the second sealing membrane of the second wall 52 as well as a closer inter-undulation distance and mesh size compared to the known mesh of the prior art.

[0088] In particular, the invention allows for almost identical mesh sizes on the first sealing membrane of the first wall 50 and on the second sealing membrane of the second wall 52, approaching a square shape.

[0089] Furthermore, in a tank design incorporating load-bearing elements, optimizing the dimensions and reducing the number of pillars required simplifies their installation within the tank. This nearly homogeneous grid allows for maintaining the same density of load-bearing elements across all tank walls.

[0090] Continuing all the corrugations also helps to limit the use of corrugation closure pieces which cause areas of stress during the thermal contraction of the sealing membrane.

[0091] The stress zones can, for example, be areas close to the edges arranged at the junction of two adjacent walls of the tank, more particularly between the slope, also called the side wall of the tank and the cofferdam, also called the bottom wall of the tank, to improve the flexibility of the sealing membrane which happens to be more fragile in this area and where the invention presents an advantageous application.

[0092] In the embodiment shown and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a first deflection member 60a is capable of deflecting every other corrugation belonging to the first series of corrugations 56 present on the first wall 50 towards the second wall 52, so as to achieve a continuity of corrugation between the first wall 50 and the second wall 52 and, in particular, here between the primary waterproofing membranes 28 covering each of said walls 50 and 52 respectively. Similarly, in this embodiment, every other corrugation belonging to the second series of corrugations 58 present on the first wall 50 is deflected towards the second wall 52 by means of a second deflection member 60b.

[0093] With reference to Figure 6, a cutaway view of a vessel 90 shows a sealed and thermally insulated tank 91 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 92 of the vessel. The wall of the tank 91 comprises a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas, preferably liquid hydrogen, contained in the tank, a secondary sealing membrane arranged between the primary sealing membrane and the double hull 92 of the vessel, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary sealing membrane and the secondary sealing membrane and between the secondary sealing membrane and the double hull 92. In a manner known per se, loading / unloading pipelines 87 arranged on the upper deck of the vessel can be connected, by means of suitable connectors, to a marine or port terminal for transferring a cargo of liquefied gas to or from the tank 91.

[0094] Figure 6 shows an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading berth, a subsea pipeline 78, and an onshore facility 80. The loading and unloading berth is a fixed offshore installation with a movable arm 82 and a tower 84 that supports the movable arm 82. The movable arm 82 carries a bundle of insulated flexible hoses 85 that can be connected to the loading / unloading pipelines 87. The steerable movable arm 82 accommodates all hydrogenerator sizes. A connecting pipeline (not shown) extends inside the tower 84. The loading and unloading berth allows the hydrogenerator 85 to be loaded and unloaded from or to the onshore facility 80. The onshore facility includes liquefied gas storage tanks 86 and connecting pipelines 88 linked by the subsea pipeline 78 to the loading or unloading berth.The subsea pipeline 78 allows the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station and the land-based installation 80 over a long distance, for example 5km, which allows the hydrogenerator ship 85 to be kept a long distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0095] To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, one can either use pumps on board the ship 85 and / or pumps equipping the land installation 80 and / or pumps equipping the loading and unloading station or allow a rise in pressure in the internal space of the tank under the effect of the evaporation of the liquefied gas stored in the tank.

[0096] To this end, the objective of the invention is achieved; optimizing the current tank wall arrangement allows for improved resistance to sloshing. Furthermore, the wave continuity ensured by the junction device compensates for the need for multiple pillars, thus reducing their quantity and associated cost.

[0097] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the features of different embodiments of the invention can be combined to carry out the invention, provided that these embodiments are not incompatible with each other.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. A sealed and thermally insulated tank (1) for storing a liquefied gas comprising at least a first wall (50) and a second wall (52) contiguous and each extending respectively in a first and second plane (P1, P2), said first and second planes (P1, P2) intersecting at at least one edge (54), each of the first and second walls (50, 52) comprising, along a thickness direction (E) of the wall, at least one thermally insulating barrier (22, 26) and at least one sealing membrane (24, 28) resting against the thermally insulating barrier (22, 26), each sealing membrane (24, 28) having a first series of corrugations (56) extending along a first direction (D1) and a second series of corrugations (58) extending along a second direction (D2), the first direction (D1) intersecting the second direction (D2),characterized in that the sealed and thermally insulating tank wall for storing a liquefied gas further comprises at least one connecting element (66) capable of connecting at least partially the sealing membrane (24, 28) of the first wall (50) and the sealing membrane (24, 28) of the second wall (52), and the connecting element being capable of connecting the first and second series of corrugations (56, 58) of the first wall (50) to the first series of corrugations (56) or to the second series of corrugations (58) of the second wall (52).

2. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas according to claim 1 in which the joining member (66) comprises at least one main branch (68) and at least one first secondary branch (70) and at least one second secondary branch (72), the main branch (68) being able to allow continuity with the first series of corrugations (56) or the second series of corrugations (58) of the second wall (52) and the first and second secondary branches (70, 72) being able to allow continuity with the first and second series of corrugations (56, 58) of the first wall (50).

3. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas according to claim 2, in which the main branch (68) and the first and second secondary branches (70, 72) project from a platform (74), in particular a metallic platform.

4. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the main branch (68) of the connecting member (66) extends so as to cover at least in part the first series of corrugations (56) or the second series of corrugations (58) of the sealing membrane (24, 28) of the second wall (52); wherein the first secondary branch (70) extends so as to cover at least in part the first series of corrugations (56) of the sealing membrane (24, 28) of the first wall (50) and wherein the second secondary branch (72) extends so as to cover at least in part the second series of corrugations (58) of the sealing membrane (24, 28) of the first wall (50).

5. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas according to any one of the preceding claims comprising an angle piece (64) adapted to cover at least in part the ends of the first and second walls (50, 52) extending towards the edge (54), the angle piece (64) covering at least in part the edge (54).

6. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas according to claims 2 and 5 in which the corner piece (64) has at least one projection suitable for extending the main branch (68) of the connecting member (66).

7. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one diverting member (60) is interposed between two connecting members (66), said diverting member (60) being able to connect in particular the first series of corrugations (56) of the first wall (50) to the first series of corrugations (56) of the second wall (52) or the second series of corrugations (58) of the first wall (50) to the second series of corrugations (58) of the second wall (52).

8. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank for a liquefied gas according to any one of the preceding claims comprising at least a front wall (2), a first side wall (8, 10, 12, 14, 16), a second side wall (8, 10, 12, 14, 16), a lower wall (6) and an upper wall (4) and in which the joining member (66) is disposed on the sealing membrane (24, 28) 18 of the front wall (2) and / or one of the side walls (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) of said tank (1), preferably near the corner piece (64) covering the edge (54), the front wall (2) and the side wall (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) being the first wall (50) and the second wall (52).

9. Vessel (90) for the transport of a liquefied gas comprising a sealed and thermally insulated tank (1) for the storage of a liquefied gas according to any one of the preceding claims.

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