Sealed and thermally insulating tank and ship comprising such a tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed tank (1) comprising a first and a second wall (3; 7; 8) adjacent to one another, each of the first and second walls (3; 7; 8) comprising a corrugated sealing membrane (50; 52) meeting at a joining zone (60). According to the invention, the joining zone makes it possible to: - connect a first corrugation (56b1) of a third series of corrugations (56b) of the second membrane (52) to a first corrugation (56a1) of a first series of corrugations (56a) of the first membrane (50); - connect a second corrugation (56b2) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second membrane (52) to a second corrugation (58a2) of a second series of corrugations (58a) of the first membrane (50); and - return a third corrugation (56b3) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second membrane (52) to the first sealing membrane (50).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: WATERTIGHT AND THERMALLY INSULATED TANK AND VESSEL CONTAINING SUCH A TANK

[0003] The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks.

[0004] 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.

[0005] It is known for sealed and thermally insulated tanks intended to be fixed to a load-bearing structure and comprising a multilayer structure consisting of one or more sealing membranes and one or more thermal insulation barriers, each of which is interposed between two sealing membranes or between a sealing membrane and the load-bearing structure.

[0006] Such a tank is, for example, described in document WO2014167228 where the sealing membrane of each wall of the tank comprises a plurality of metal plates having series of corrugations perpendicular to each other.

[0007] The corrugations allow the sealing membranes to deform under the thermal and mechanical stresses generated by the fluid stored in the tank. However, such a tank does not exhibit continuous waveforms at the intersections of two adjacent walls.

[0008] Thus, none of the corrugations in the waterproofing membrane extend into the continuation of the corrugations in the adjacent wall. Consequently, in the absence of such continuity of the corrugations, the angular arrangements between one wall and the other of the adjacent walls constitute areas of stress concentration and therefore form zones of weakness because they are subjected to numerous, non-uniform stresses.

[0009] In particular, the walls are subjected to compressive forces related to tank loading, thermal stresses during cooling, and forces related to dynamic shocks of the fluid contained within the tank due to the phenomenon of "sloshing" or fluid sloshing during transport at sea. These forces are exerted particularly in the corner areas of the tank, which are therefore more fragile.

[0010] One idea underlying the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned problems by improving the current arrangement of the tank so as to make the walls of said tank more resistant to the cold from the transported liquefied gas and to cyclic fatigue while reducing overall costs, in particular by reducing the need for materials and labor.

[0011] To this end, the invention proposes a watertight tank comprising a first and a second adjacent wall extending respectively in a first and a second plane intersecting each other; each of the first and second walls comprising a corrugated sealing membrane, referred to respectively as the first and second membranes; the first sealing membrane and the second sealing membrane meeting at a junction zone in which:

[0012] - the waterproofing membrane of the first wall comprises a first series of corrugations including parallel corrugations extending in a first direction and a second series of corrugations including parallel corrugations extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; the first series of corrugations comprising successively at least a first and a second corrugation; the second series of corrugations comprising successively at least a first and a second corrugation, and

[0013] - the sealing membrane of the second wall includes a third series of corrugations comprising corrugations parallel to each other extending in a third direction, the third series of corrugations comprising successively at least a first, a second and a third corrugation.

[0014] Furthermore, the junction zone includes a first deflection means suitable for connecting the first corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane to the first corrugation of the first series of corrugations of the first sealing membrane, a second deflection means suitable for connecting the second corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane to the second corrugation of the second series of corrugations of the first sealing membrane, and, the junction zone is further suitable for allowing the return of the third corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane to the first sealing membrane.

[0015] According to the invention, a first corrugation closure element is capable of stopping the first corrugation of the second series of corrugations of the first sealing membrane and the first corrugation closure element is interposed between the first deflection means and the second corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane returned to the first sealing membrane.

[0016] Thus, thanks to the present invention, the mesh created by the series of corrugations in the sealing membranes is more homogeneous on at least two adjacent walls of the watertight and thermally insulating tank than meshes of the prior art. This new mesh also exhibits less cold prestress and improved cyclic fatigue resistance of the sealing membranes.

[0017] The mesh (or grid) obtained by the series of undulations of each of the sealing membranes here comprises an arrangement of contiguous rectangles.

[0018] Thanks to the arrangement according to the present invention, the mesh of the sealing membrane on one of the two adjacent walls has rectangles with dimensions identical or nearly identical to those of the mesh of the sealing membrane on the other adjacent wall. In other words, this configuration makes it possible to obtain a nearly homogeneous grid on at least two adjacent walls, or even on all the walls forming the tank.

[0019] A nearly homogeneous grid is an arrangement with almost identical mesh sizes on two adjacent walls, meaning there is almost no difference between the dimensions of a rectangle in the mesh of one face and those of another rectangle in the mesh of the adjacent face.

[0020] Furthermore, this tank arrangement also improves the flexibility of the sealing membrane in areas near the edges. Areas near the edges are defined as those located at the junction of two adjacent tank walls.

[0021] Specific implementation methods propose that:

[0022] The second undulation of the third series of undulations is inserted between the first and second undulations of the third series of undulations of the second wall.

[0023] The junction area includes an additional piece made in the form of an angle bracket,

[0024] The first means of deviation is an additional piece suitable for covering the first corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second waterproofing membrane and the first corrugation of the first series of corrugations of the first waterproofing membrane. The second means of deviation is an additional piece suitable for covering the second corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second waterproofing membrane and the second corrugation of the second series of corrugations of the first waterproofing membrane.

[0025] A corner piece is suitable for redirecting the third corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane towards the first sealing membrane.

[0026] The corner piece is an additional piece suitable for covering the third corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second waterproofing membrane.

[0027] The first corrugation closure element is placed on the first waterproofing membrane near or at the level of the junction area.

[0028] The first corrugation closure element is interposed between the first deflection means and the corner piece capable of redirecting the third corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane towards the first sealing membrane.

[0029] A second corrugation-closing element is capable of stopping the second corrugation of the first series of corrugations in the first sealing membrane.

[0030] The second corrugation closure element is positioned on the first waterproofing membrane near or at the junction area.

[0031] The second corrugation closure element is interposed between the end of the third corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane, which is returned to the first sealing membrane, and the second diverting means is suitable for connecting the second corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane to the second corrugation of the second series of corrugations of the first sealing membrane.

[0032] A third corrugation closure element is suitable for closing the third corrugation of the third series of corrugations of the second sealing membrane returned to the first sealing membrane.

[0033] The third corrugation closure element is positioned on the first waterproofing membrane near or at the junction area.

[0034] The sealing membrane of the second wall comprises a fourth series of corrugations including corrugations parallel to each other extending in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction.

[0035] The first, second, and third corrugation closure elements are positioned on the first sealing membrane. The mesh created on the first and second adjacent walls by their respective corrugation series takes the form of adjacent squares and / or approximates a form of adjacent squares. This results in a nearly homogeneous grid on both sealing membranes of the first and second adjacent walls, thus improving the mechanical resistance of the tank wall sealing membrane to impacts caused by the sloshing phenomenon.

[0036] The thermally insulating barrier comprising at least one load-bearing element, the load-bearing element comprising at least one pillar and a platform which is linked to one end of the pillar, the sealing membrane being fixed to the internal platform, The first wall is an end wall and the second wall is an upper sloping wall or a lower sloping wall of the sealed and thermally insulating liquefied gas storage tank.

[0037] The invention also relates to a ship for the transport of a liquefied gas comprising a sealed and thermally insulated tank for the storage of a liquefied gas as previously described.

[0038] 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 of embodiments given with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0039] Figure [Fig.1] schematically represents a partial perspective and cross-sectional view of a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank.

[0040] Figure [Fig. 2] illustrates a flat representation of the tank in Figure 1.

[0041] Figure 3 illustrates a partial perspective view of a corner area of ​​a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank according to the invention.

[0042] Figure 4 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank wall according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0043] Figure 5 schematically represents a tank on a ship and a terminal for loading and unloading that tank.

[0044] It should be noted that, in all the figures, similar elements and / or those fulfilling the same function are indicated by the same numbering. A horizontal plane is defined as a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of a ship containing a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank, a longitudinal plane as a plane perpendicular to the transverse axis of the ship, and a transverse plane as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ship.

[0045] In the description that follows, 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) on the figures.

[0046] 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.

[0047] Figures 1 and 2 show the general structure of a sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank 1. The sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank 1 is mounted on a supporting structure 2. The supporting structure 2 can be, in particular, a self-supporting metal sheet or, more generally, any type of rigid partition exhibiting mechanical properties suitable for the transport of liquefied gases such as liquid hydrogen, which is at approximately -253°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0048] The load-bearing structure comprises a plurality of walls defining the general shape of the sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank 1. In the embodiment described below, the load-bearing structure 2 is formed by the double hull of a ship.

[0049] The sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank 1 has a generally polyhedral shape. It has two octagonal end walls 3. The end walls 3 are fixed to transverse cofferdam bulkheads of the ship and therefore extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the ship. The two end walls 3 are connected to each other by eight walls extending along the longitudinal direction of the ship, namely: a horizontal bottom wall 4 and a horizontal ceiling wall 5; two vertical side walls 6; two upper sloping walls 7, each connecting one of the side walls 6 to the ceiling wall 5; and two lower sloping walls 8, each connecting one of the side walls 6 to the bottom wall 4.

[0050] The lower sloping walls 8 here form an angle of 135° with the bottom wall 4 and an angle of 135° with the side walls 6. Similarly, the upper sloping walls 7 form an angle of 135° with the ceiling wall 5 and an angle of 135° with the side walls 6. The sealed and thermally insulated tank 1 can in particular be formed of self-supporting metal sheets or, more generally, of any type of rigid partition.

[0051] Figure 3 illustrates a particular embodiment of the invention where a first wall and a second wall of the sealed and thermally insulated liquefied gas storage tank 1 are adjacent and contiguous.

[0052] In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous for the first wall to be an end wall 3. The second wall may, for its part, be an upper oblique wall 7 or a lower oblique wall 8. Such a configuration is advantageous in that it is at the junction between these walls that the most stresses are exerted.

[0053] The sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 thus comprises a first and a second wall 3 or 7 adjacent and developing respectively in a first and a second plane intersecting each other.

[0054] Each of the first and second walls comprises a corrugated sealing membrane referred to respectively as first 50 and second 52 sealing membrane; the first sealing membrane 50 and the second sealing membrane 52 meet at a junction zone 60.

[0055] The sealing membrane 50 of the first wall 3 comprises a first series of undulations 56 including undulations parallel to each other extending in a first direction and a second series of undulations 58a including undulations parallel to each other extending in a second direction secant to the first direction.

[0056] The first and second intersecting directions give an arrangement or "mesh" of the first 50 sealing membrane organized in the form of a grid.

[0057] The first series of undulations 56a of the first sealing membrane 50 comprises successively at least a first (56a1) and a second (56a2) undulations.

[0058] The second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50 comprises successively at least a first 58a1 and a second 58a2 corrugations. The sealing membrane 52 of the second wall 7 comprises a third series of corrugations 56b including corrugations parallel to each other extending in a third direction.

[0059] Here, the third series of 56b undulations successively comprises at least a first 56b1, a second 56b2 and a third 56b3 undulations.

[0060] The sealing membrane 52 of the second wall 7 has a fourth series of undulations 58b comprising undulations parallel to each other extending along a fourth direction secant to the third direction.

[0061] Since the third and fourth directions are intersecting, they lead to an arrangement or "mesh" of the second sealing membrane 52 organized in the form of a grid.

[0062] According to the invention, the junction zone 60 is suitable for allowing: the connection of the first corrugation 56b1 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the first corrugation 56a1 of the first series of corrugations 56a of the first sealing membrane 50, the connection of the second corrugation 56b2 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the second corrugation 58a2 of the second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50, and the return of the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the first sealing membrane 50.

[0063] In other words, the second undulation 56b2 of the third series of undulations 56b is inserted between the first and second undulations 56b1 and 56b2 of the third series of undulations 56b of the second sealing wall 52.

[0064] The connections between the corrugations belonging to the two different sealing membranes allow for flexibility in the junction zone 60.

[0065] Similarly, redirecting the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the first sealing membrane 50 provides flexibility in the corner of the tank (in other words, in the junction zone) and limits stresses related to thermal contraction in the corner, thus avoiding a rigid point in this area. This arrangement allows the sealing membrane to have a tighter and reduced mesh compared to the mesh known in the prior art in the junction zone, and thus to better absorb thermal stresses during cooling and the forces related to dynamic shocks of the fluid contained in the tank (here, in particular, liquefied gas such as liquid hydrogen) due to the "sloshing" phenomenon of the fluid in the tank during transport at sea in the corner areas of the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1.

[0066] The junction area 60 may include an additional piece made in the form of an angle bracket.

[0067] The angle bracket is an angle arrangement suitable for covering at least part of the ends of the first and second sealing membranes 50 and 52 in the junction area 60.

[0068] The angle bracket may include, for example, another sealing membrane welded in a watertight manner to the first sealing membrane 50 of the first wall 3 and to the second sealing membrane 52 of the second wall 7.

[0069] In the example illustrated in Figure 3, a first deflection means 62 is suitable for connecting the first corrugation 56b1 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the first corrugation 56a1 of the first series of corrugations 56a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0070] The first means of deflection 62 is an additional piece suitable for covering the end of the first corrugation 56b1 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 and the end of the first corrugation 56a1 of the first series of corrugations 56a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0071] The first means of deflection 62 is therefore a means of deflecting a corrugation of a sealing membrane of a wall of the tank 1 towards another sealing membrane of an adjacent wall of the tank 1.

[0072] The first deflection means 62 also includes a projection in the form of a corrugation which has a first end located in the extension of one of the corrugations, here, the first corrugation 56b1 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 and a second end located in the extension of one of the corrugations (here the first corrugation 56a1) of the first series of corrugations 56a of the first sealing membrane 50. It will be noted that in the embodiment illustrated in figure 3, every other corrugation of the first series of corrugations 56a (here the first corrugation 56a1) of the first sealing membrane 50 is connected to a corrugation of the third series of corrugations 56b (here the first corrugation 56b1) of the second sealing membrane 52.

[0073] The continuity of undulations between the first and second sealing membranes allows the sealing membranes to gain flexibility and thus better resist and absorb thermal stresses during cooling and the forces related to the dynamic shocks of the fluid contained in the tank.

[0074] This connection is made, here, by the first means of diversion 62.

[0075] Similarly, a second deflection means 66 is suitable for connecting the second corrugation 56b2 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the second corrugation 58a2 of the second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0076] The second means of deflection 66 is also an additional piece suitable for covering the end of the second corrugation 56b2 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 and the end of the second corrugation 58a2 of the second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0077] Like the first deflection means 62, the second deflection means 66 is a means for deflecting a corrugation of a sealing membrane on one wall of the tank 1 towards another sealing membrane on an adjacent wall of the tank 1

[0078] The second means of deviation 66 also includes a projection made in the form of a corrugation which has a first end located in the extension of one of the corrugations, here, the second corrugation 56b2 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 and a second end located in the extension of one of the corrugations (here the second corrugation 58a2) of the second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0079] It will be noted that in the embodiment illustrated in figure 3, one out of every two corrugations of the second series of corrugations 58a (here the second corrugation 58a2) of the first sealing membrane 50 is here connected to a corrugation (here the second corrugation 56b2) of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52. Here too, the continuity of corrugations between the first and second sealing membranes allows the sealing membranes to gain flexibility and thus to better resist and absorb thermal stresses during cooling and the forces related to the dynamic shocks of the fluid contained in the tank.

[0080] This connection is made, here, by the second means of diversion 66.

[0081] Thus, thanks to the presence of the first and second means of deflection 62 and 66, a continuity of the undulations is ensured at the angle between the first and second sealing membranes 50 and 52. Thus, the stress concentrations are limited in the angle area.

[0082] It is understood that the second means of deviation 66 completes the function of the first means of deviation 68 to divert undulations belonging to the first and second series of undulations 56a, 58a of the first sealing membrane 50 to limit the stress zones.

[0083] In this example, an angle piece 70 is suitable for returning the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the first sealing membrane 50.

[0084] The corner piece 70 is, here, an additional piece suitable for covering the end of the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52.

[0085] Furthermore, a first corrugation closure element 64 is capable of stopping the first corrugation 58a1 of the second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0086] The first corrugation closure element 64 is located, in this example, on the first sealing membrane 50 near the junction area 60.

[0087] The first corrugation closure element 64 is arranged on the angle bracket straddling the first sealing membrane 50 and the second sealing membrane 52. The first corrugation closure element 64 stops or closes a corrugation of the second series of corrugations 58a (here the first corrugation 58a1) of the first sealing membrane 50 that is not connected to a corrugation of the second sealing membrane 52. In other words, in this example, "one out of every two corrugations" of the second series of corrugations 58a (here the first corrugation 58a1) of the first sealing membrane 50 not deflected by a first deflection means 62 is stopped / closed by a first corrugation closure element 64.

[0088] The first corrugation closure element 64 is intercalated between the first deflection means 62 and the second corrugation 56b2 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 referred back to the first sealing membrane 50.

[0089] In particular, the first corrugation closure element 64 is interposed between the first deflection means 62 and the corner piece 70 suitable for redirecting the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 towards the first sealing membrane 50. Here, the corner piece 70 includes a third corrugation closure element 72 (described later) and the first corrugation closure element 64 is interposed between the first deflection means 62 and the third corrugation closure element 72.

[0090] A second corrugation closure element 68 is suitable for stopping (or closing) the second corrugation 56a2 of the first series of corrugations 56a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0091] The second corrugation closure element 68 is here positioned on the first sealing membrane 50 near or at the level of the junction area 60.

[0092] The second corrugation closure element 68 is arranged for example on the angle bracket arranged straddling the first sealing membrane 50 and the second sealing membrane 52.

[0093] In particular, the second corrugation closure element 68 is interposed between the end of the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52, which is directed back to the first sealing membrane 50, and the second diverting means 66 is adapted to connect the second corrugation 56b2 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the second corrugation 58a2 of the second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the second corrugation closure element 68 is interposed between the corner piece 70, and the second diverting means 66 is adapted to connect the second corrugation 56b2 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 to the second corrugation 58a2 of the second series of corrugations 58a of the first sealing membrane 50.

[0094] Here, the corner piece 70 has a third corrugation closing element 72 and the second corrugation closing element 68 is interposed between the second deflection means 66 and the third corrugation closing element 72.

[0095] It will be noted that in the embodiment illustrated in figure 3, the second corrugation closing element 68 stops or closes a corrugation of the second series of corrugations 58a (here the first corrugation 58a1) of the first sealing membrane 50. This is the corrugation of the second series of corrugations 58a (here the first corrugation 58a1) of the first sealing membrane 50 not deflected by the first deflection element 62.

[0096] In other words, in this example, "one out of two corrugations" (here the second corrugation 56a2) of the first series of corrugations 56a of the first sealing membrane 50 not deflected by a second deflection element 66 is stopped / closed by a second corrugation closing element 68.

[0097] Finally, a third corrugation closure 72 is suitable for closing (or stopping) the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 returned to the first sealing membrane 50.

[0098] As indicated above, the third corrugation closure 72 is located in the extension of the corner piece 70 capable of referring the third corrugation 56b3 of the third series of corrugations 56b of the second sealing membrane 52 towards the first sealing membrane 50.

[0099] The first, second and third corrugation closure elements 64; 68 and 72 are placed, in the example illustrated here, on the first sealing membrane 50.

[0100] The tank 1 has, at its junction zone 60, a repeating pattern of: a first corrugation closure element 64, a first deflection means 62, a second deflection means 66, and a second and then third corrugation closure elements 68 and 72. This particular arrangement allows for a reduction in the mesh size on two adjacent walls compared to meshes known in the prior art. In particular, the invention allows for nearly identical mesh sizes on the first sealing membrane 50 of the first wall 3 and on the second sealing membrane 52 of the second wall 7, the nearly identical mesh sizes approaching a square shape.

[0101] Furthermore, the invention finds a preferred application in a junction zone 60 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.

[0102] 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 that is connected to one end of the pillar. In such a case, the sealing membrane is fixed to the inner plate.

[0103] Figure 4 illustrates a particular embodiment of such a tank where a wall 20 is intended to be integrated into the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 according to the invention.

[0104] 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 thermally insulating barrier called secondary 22, a sealing membrane called secondary 24 which is corrugated and fixed against the thermally insulating secondary barrier 22, another thermally insulating barrier called primary 26 and a sealing membrane called primary 28 which is corrugated and fixed against the thermally insulating primary barrier 26.

[0105] The primary sealing membrane 28 is intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas, such as liquid hydrogen, which is intended to be contained in the tank 1.

[0106] The secondary thermally insulating barrier 22 comprises a plurality of insulating panels 30 anchored to the sealed and thermally insulating tank 1.

[0107] The insulating panels 30 each 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 panels bonded to the insulating polymer foam layer 32. The insulating polymer foam 32 may, in particular, be a polyurethane-based foam preferably reinforced with fibers. 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 waterproofing membrane 24 and the primary waterproofing membrane 28.

[0108] The load-bearing elements 38 each include a pillar 40 of preferably cylindrical shape.

[0109] 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.

[0110] 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.

[0111] 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.

[0112] 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.

[0113] Pillar 40 is preferably manufactured from composite material comprising fibers and a matrix.

[0114] Trays 44, 48 are preferably metallic, for example made of stainless steel.

[0115] The arrangement of the plurality of load-bearing elements 38 generally allows the sealing membrane 28 to be reinforced by taking up the forces due to hydrostatic and dynamic pressures exerted on said primary sealing membrane 24 by the liquefied gas contained inside the tank.

[0116] As previously mentioned, the specific arrangement in the junction zone 60 allows for a reduction in mesh size compared to meshes known from the prior art. This reduction in mesh size makes it possible to reduce the size of the plates 44 to which the pillars 40 are connected. It is thus possible to manufacture the plates in the form of squares. This particular shape allows for homogeneous and balanced load distribution, making them less susceptible to mechanical deformation under liquid impact (sloshing) in the tank, as well as the load-bearing elements 38 of which they are a part.

[0117] Thus, the particular arrangement not only ensures continuity between the undulations to reduce the mesh size but also dampens the impacts related to sloshing exerted on the sealing membranes in the tank corner area.

[0118] Finally, the particular arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the number of pillars 40 and therefore of load-bearing elements 38 by a range of between 10% and 15% compared to a sealed and thermally insulated tank for storing a liquefied gas of the prior art.

[0119] An unrepresented embodiment proposes that the thermal barrier be composed of a plurality of heat-insulating elements anchored to the supporting structure. The heat-insulating elements are placed side by side, for example, in parallel rows. In such a case, the heat-insulating elements have a generally parallelepiped shape and together form a flat surface to which the waterproofing membrane is anchored.

[0120] Each heat-insulating element may consist of a parallel base panel, a parallel lid panel, and four side panels extending perpendicularly to the base and lid panels, defining an internal space. The base panel, lid panel, side panels, and spacers are, for example, made of plywood.

[0121] Each heat-insulating element is also equipped with metal plates for anchoring the edge of the corrugated metal sheets of the sealing membrane(s).

[0122] Figure 5 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.

[0123] 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.

[0124] 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. Watertight tank (1) comprising a first and a second adjacent walls (3; 7; 8) developing respectively in a first and a second plane intersecting each other; each of the first and second walls (3; 7; 8) comprising a corrugated sealing membrane (50; 52) referred to respectively as the first (50) and second (52) membranes; the first sealing membrane (50) and the second sealing membrane (52) meeting at a junction zone (60),in which: the sealing membrane (50) of the first wall (3) comprises a first series of undulations (56a) comprising undulations parallel to each other extending in a first direction and a second series of undulations (58a) comprising undulations parallel to each other extending in a second direction secant to the first direction; o the first series of corrugations (56a) comprising successively at least a first (56a1) and a second (56a2) corrugations o the second series of corrugations (58a) comprising successively at least a first (58a1) and a second (58a2) corrugations the sealing membrane (52) of the second wall (8) comprises a third series of corrugations (56b) comprising corrugations parallel to each other extending in a third direction, the third series of corrugations (56b) comprising successively at least a first (56b1),a second (56b2) and a third (56b3) corrugations in which the junction zone comprises: a first deflection means (62) adapted to connect the first corrugation (56b1) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second sealing membrane (52) to the first corrugation (56a1) of the first series of corrugations (56a) of the first sealing membrane (50), a second deflection means (66) adapted to connect the second corrugation (56b2) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second sealing membrane (52) to the second corrugation (58a2) of the second series of corrugations (58a) of the first sealing membrane (50), and, the junction zone being further adapted to allow the redirection of the third corrugation (56b3) of the third series of corrugations (56b) from the second sealing membrane (52) to the first sealing membrane (50). characterized in that a first corrugation closure element (64) is capable of stopping the first corrugation (58a1) of the second series of corrugations (58a) of the first sealing membrane (50) and in that the first corrugation closure element (64) is intercalated between the first deflection means (62) and the second corrugation (56b2) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second sealing membrane (52) returned to the first sealing membrane (50).

2. Tank according to claim 1 or 2 in which an angle piece (70) is able to return the third corrugation (56b3) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second sealing membrane (52) to the first sealing membrane (50).

3. Tank according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a second corrugation closure element (68) is capable of stopping the second corrugation (56a2) of the first series of corrugations (56a) of the first sealing membrane (50).

4. Tank according to the preceding claim in which the second corrugation closure element (68) is interposed between the third corrugation (56b3) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second sealing membrane (52) referred back to the first sealing membrane (50) and the second diverting means (66) is able to connect the second corrugation (56b2) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second sealing membrane (52) to the second corrugation (58a2) of the second series of corrugations (58a) of the first sealing membrane (50).

5. Tank according to any one of claims 2 to 4 in which a third corrugation closing element (72) is able to close the third corrugation (56b3) of the third series of corrugations (56b) of the second sealing membrane (52) returned to the first sealing membrane (50).

6. Tank according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sealing membrane (52) of the second wall (8) comprises a fourth series of corrugations (58b) comprising corrugations parallel to each other extending along a fourth direction secant to the third direction.

7. Tank according to claim 5 or 6 taken in their relation to claim 3, wherein the first, second and third elements of Corrugation closures (64; 68; 72) are arranged on the first sealing membrane (50).

8. A tank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermally insulating barrier comprises at least one load-bearing element, the load-bearing element comprising at least one pillar and a platform connected to one end of the pillar, the sealing membrane being fixed to the inner platform.

9. A vessel for the transport of a liquefied gas comprising a sealed and thermally insulating storage tank for a liquefied gas according to any one of the preceding claims.

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