Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
  • B63B25/02—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods
  • B63B25/08—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid
  • B63B25/12—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed
  • B63B25/16—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed heat-insulated
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
  • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
  • F17C3/025—Bulk storage in barges or on ships
  • F17C3/027—Wallpanels for so-called membrane tanks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
  • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
  • F17C3/04—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation by insulating layers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/01—Shape
  • F17C2201/0147—Shape complex
  • F17C2201/0157—Polygonal
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/05—Size
  • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0329—Foam
  • F17C2203/0333—Polyurethane
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0345—Fibres
  • F17C2203/035—Glass wool
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0358—Thermal insulations by solid means in form of panels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
  • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
  • F17C2203/0626—Multiple walls
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
  • F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
  • F17C2209/228—Assembling processes by screws, bolts or rivets
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
  • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
  • F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
  • F17C2250/0605—Parameters
  • F17C2250/0678—Position or presence
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
  • F17C2260/011—Improving strength
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
  • F17C2270/0107—Wall panels

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks integrated into a supporting structure to contain a cold fluid, in particular to membrane tanks for containing liquefied gases, and in particular to mechanical anchoring devices that can be used in such a tank.
• Sealed and thermally insulating tanks can be used in different industries to store cold products.
• liquefied natural gas is a liquid with a high methane content that can be stored at atmospheric pressure at around -163 ° C in terrestrial storage tanks or in on-board tanks. in floating structures.
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas can be stored at a temperature between -50 ° C and 0 ° C.
• the tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.
• a sealed and thermally insulating tank for liquefied natural gas storage arranged in a supporting structure and whose walls have a multilayer structure, namely of l 'exterior to interior of the vessel, a secondary thermally insulating barrier anchored against the supporting structure, a secondary waterproofing membrane which is supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier which is supported by the membrane of secondary sealing and a primary sealing membrane which is supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier and which is intended to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas stored in the tank.
• Each thermal insulation barrier comprises a set of modular insulating blocks, respectively primary and secondary, of generally parallelepipedal shape which are juxtaposed and which thus form a support surface for a respective waterproofing membrane.
• the insulating blocks are anchored to the supporting structure by means of anchors that are attached to the supporting structure and which are positioned at the corners of the primary and secondary insulating blocks.
• Each anchoring device thus cooperates with the corners of four adjacent secondary insulating blocks and with the corners of four adjacent primary insulating blocks to hold them against the supporting structure.
• the anchoring devices are made with components generally stiffer than the insulating blocks in order to be able to reliably anchor the thermally insulating barriers while having a limited footprint. These differences in stiffness cause a risk of creating defects in the flatness of a thermally insulating barrier in response to compressive stresses, in particular when the thermally insulating barrier is made essentially of polymer foam. These flatness defects can cause stress concentrations at the anchoring devices which would be detrimental to the integrity of the waterproof membrane supported by the thermally insulating barrier.
• An idea at the basis of the invention consists in introducing flexibility of the anchoring devices in the direction of a compressive force coming from the inside of the tank, in order to homogenize the response of a thermally insulating barrier. to compressive stresses.
• Another idea underlying the invention consists in allowing the upper surface of an anchoring device to approximately follow the movements of the upper surface of the insulating blocks during the operation of a sealed and thermally insulating tank. membrane.
• an anchoring device intended to retain insulating blocks against a load-bearing wall, comprising: a clamping assembly comprising a lower plate, an upper plate parallel to the lower plate, a connecting member connecting the lower plate to the upper plate and a spacer member arranged between the lower plate and the upper plate, the member of 'spacing comprising a stop piece defining a minimum spacing between the lower plate and the upper plate in a stop position of the lower and upper plates against the stop piece, the stop piece comprising a rigid part, and an anchor rod protruding from the clamp assembly perpendicular to the lower plate, the anchor rod having a lower end intended to be attached to a load-bearing wall and an upper end opposite the lower end and coupled to the lower plate to be able to exert traction on the lower plate in the direction of the lower end, in which the spacer member further comprises an elastically compressible member tending to maintain the lower plate and the upper plate in a separated position, the connecting member defining a maximum spacing between the lower plate
• the anchoring device can have a lower stiffness than in the aforementioned prior art in response to a compressive force and thus have a capacity for elastic deformation by crushing between the separated position and the stop position.
• such an anchoring device may have one or more of the following characteristics.
• the connecting member that defines the maximum spacing between the lower plate and the upper plate can be achieved in different ways.
• the connecting member comprises at least one connecting rod perpendicular to the lower plate and to the upper plate and extending through a bore formed in the stop piece, at least one among the lower plate and the upper plate being slidably mounted relative to said connecting rod to be able to slide to the stop position.
• the link member further comprises a first stop member coupled to a first end of the link rod to stop the upper plate longitudinally relative to the link rod in the spaced position.
• the connecting member further comprises a rotational blocking element coupled to the first stop element, a portion of the rotating blocking element being received in a notch that the upper plate presents in such a manner. to block the connecting rod in rotation.
• the rotation locking element is housed in a housing provided by the upper plate and receiving the first stop element, the notch opening into the housing.
• the link member further comprises a second stop member coupled to a second end of the rod to stop the lower plate longitudinally relative to the link rod in the spaced position.
• the first stopper has a nut screwed onto and welded to the first end of the connecting rod, and the second stopper is integral with the bottom plate.
• the second stop element is received in a groove presented by the lower plate, the groove comprising two facing faces with which two separate faces of the second stop element cooperate so as to block the connecting rod. in rotation, and the first stop element is integral with the upper plate.
• the anchoring device further comprises a spacer piece arranged under the lower plate and having a central housing through which the anchoring rod passes, the spacer piece comprising an upper surface configured to rest against the lower plate of the clamping assembly and a lower surface intended to rest on an insulating block, and the second stop element is received in a groove presented by the spacer piece, the groove comprising two opposite faces with which two opposite faces of the second stop element cooperate so as to block the connecting rod in rotation, and the first stop element is integral with the upper plate.
• the elastically compressible member can be arranged in different ways between the lower plate and the upper plate.
• the resiliently compressible member can be mounted in series or in parallel with the stop piece defining the minimum spacing.
• the elastically compressible member is engaged on the connecting rod.
• the elastically compressible member bears against the stop piece and / or against at least one of the lower and upper plates.
• the bore formed in the stop piece has a stage in which the elastically compressible member is arranged. Thanks to these characteristics, the elastically compressible member can have a small footprint.
• the elastically compressible member can be produced in different ways, in particular in the form of one or more springs.
• the elastically compressible member comprises a stack of elastic washers. For example between 2 and 10 Belleville washers can be used to generate an elastic deflection of between 1 and 8 mm.
• the elastically compressible member comprises a helical spring.
• the elastic movement between the separated position and the stop position of the upper and lower plates preferably corresponds quite precisely to the movement of a cover plate of the insulating block between a rest state corresponding to an empty tank and at room temperature and a state operating conditions corresponding to the operating conditions of the tank.
• This displacement is caused by thermal contraction and contraction of the insulating block under load from the pressure exerted by the cargo.
• the elastic deflection is between 1 and 8 mm, preferably between 4 and 7 mm, preferably equal to 5 mm.
• the elastic movement is between 1 and 6 mm, preferably 3 mm.
• the link member is configured to exert a static load on the elastically compressible member in the spaced position.
• a static load or preload
• the static load is for example of the order of 1kN.
• the lower plate has a central bore through which the upper end of the anchoring rod passes, and the anchoring device comprises a nut which cooperates with a threaded portion of the upper end of the rod. 'anchor and one or more elastic washers threaded on the upper end of the anchor rod between the nut and the lower plate so as to be able to exert an elastic force on the lower plate in the direction of the lower end of the rod anchor.
• the clamping assembly comprises at least two connecting rods arranged symmetrically with respect to said central bore. Thanks to these characteristics, the forces can be distributed evenly throughout the clamping assembly.
• the or each connecting rod is blocked in rotation by a weld point on one or both plates, or by a slotted locknut.
• the slotted locknut is placed for example above, below or partially in the lower plate.
• the stop piece is fixed to one of the lower plate and the upper plate, for example by screwing and / or by riveting and / or by gluing.
• the stop piece is fixed to the lower plate.
• the stop piece consists of the rigid piece.
• the stop piece further comprises a layer of polymer foam placed on one surface of the rigid piece facing the other among the lower plate and the upper plate, the layer of polymer foam being compressed in said layer. stop position of the lower and upper plates against the stop piece.
• the polymer foam layer can be glued to the rigid part.
• the layer of polymer foam has a thickness of between 2 and 8 mm in order to keep in the stop position a thickness of between 1 and 6 mm.
• the other among the lower plate and the upper plate comprises a layer of polymer foam disposed on a surface of said plate facing the rigid part, the layer of polymer foam being compressed in said stop position of the lower and upper plates against the stop piece.
• the layer of polymer foam can be glued to said plate.
• the anchoring device further comprises a spacer piece arranged under the lower plate and having a central housing through which the anchor rod passes, the spacer part comprising an upper surface configured to rest against the plate. bottom of the clamp assembly and a bottom surface for resting on an insulating block.
• the spacer piece is for example made of plywood to limit the thermal bridge.
• the spacer piece preferably has a section identical to the lower plate, rectangular in shape in the embodiments shown. It can be formed from a small number of elongated pieces having simple shapes, rigidly assembled together, for example by stapling, screwing and / or gluing.
• the central housing is preferably filled with a thermal insulation around the anchor rod, for example glass wool, wadding, expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam.
• the spacer piece is formed of four identical elongated profiled pieces, an inclined side of which forms a respective wall of the central housing.
• the spacer piece is formed of two facing plates and two cleats arranged between said two facing plates, each of the two cleats and two plates forming a respective wall of the central housing.
• the thermal insulation comprises a block of glass wool surrounding the anchor rod.
• the block of glass wool has, in its thickness, a notch intended to receive the anchor rod.
• the block of glass wool comprises at least one sheet of glass fabric, kraft paper or polymer, said sheet being placed between the block of glass wool and a wall facing the central housing.
• the thermal insulation comprises a block of polymer foam having a through hole intended to receive the anchor rod.
• the through hole has a section which widens going from one of the upper and lower ends of the anchor rod towards the other of the upper and lower ends of the anchor rod.
• the through hole has a section which widens going from the upper end of the anchor rod towards the lower end of the anchor rod.
• the spacer piece has a blind hole extending in the extension of the connecting rod and capable of receiving part of the connecting rod.
• the clamping assembly forms a secondary clamping member intended to cooperate with a secondary insulating barrier, the upper plate having a central bore in which is screwed a stud projecting from the clamping assembly to the opposite the anchor rod, said stud carrying a primary clamping member intended to cooperate with a primary insulating barrier.
• the anchoring device further comprises a sleeve engaged on the lower end of the anchoring rod and intended to be fixed to the bearing wall, the sleeve having a housing receiving the lower end of the anchor rod so as to form a ball joint.
• the clamping assembly has an overall parallelepipedal shape, the lower plate and the upper plate having a rectangular outline.
• the anchor rod, the lower plate and the upper plate are made of metal, the stop piece being made of plywood or other rigid material providing better thermal insulation than metal, for example polyurethane foam with a density greater than 200 kg / m 3 .
• the invention also provides an anchoring device intended to retain insulating blocks against a load-bearing wall, comprising: a clamping assembly comprising a lower plate, an upper plate parallel to the lower plate, a connecting member connecting the lower plate to the upper plate and a spacer member arranged between the lower plate and the upper plate, the member of 'spacing comprising a rigid stop piece defining a minimum spacing between the lower plate and the upper plate in a stop position of the lower and upper plates against the stop piece, an anchor rod protruding from the clamp assembly perpendicular to the lower plate, the anchor rod having a lower end intended to be attached to a load-bearing wall and an upper end opposite the lower end and coupled to the lower plate to be able to exert traction on the lower plate in the direction of the lower end, and a spacer piece disposed under the lower plate and having a central housing through which the anchor rod passes, the spacer part comprising an upper surface configured to rest against the lower plate of the clamping assembly and a lower surface intended
• the spacer piece may have one or more of the characteristics already described above.
• the invention also provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid, comprising a bearing wall, anchoring devices fixed to the bearing wall and a tank wall anchored to the bearing wall at using anchoring devices, the vessel wall having successively in a direction of thickness, from the outside to the interior of the vessel, a thermally insulating barrier and a waterproofing membrane which rests against the thermally barrier insulating, wherein the thermally insulating barrier comprises insulating blocks of parallelepiped shape which are juxtaposed on the supporting wall, a said insulating block comprising a cover plate defining a support surface for the waterproofing membrane; in which at least one said aforementioned anchoring device is used, the lower end of the anchoring rod being fixed to the bearing wall between a plurality of the insulating blocks, the lower plate of the anchoring device cooperating with the plurality of insulating blocks to clamp the plurality of insulating blocks towards the load-bearing wall.
• such a tank may have one or more of the following characteristics.
• the elastically compressible member is configured to maintain the lower plate and the upper plate in the separated position in an empty state of the tank, the upper plate of the anchoring device in the separated position being aligned with the cover plates of the plurality of insulating blocks for supporting the waterproofing membrane.
• a said insulating block can have different structures.
• a said insulating block comprises a bottom plate parallel to and spaced from the cover plate, a block of fiber reinforced polymer foam arranged between the cover plate and a base plate and the lower plate of the device.
• anchor cooperates directly or indirectly with said bottom plate without exerting clamping on the block of polymer foam.
• the lower plate of the anchoring device can cooperate with the bottom plate by means of a rigid element such as a spacer piece, a pillar and / or a cleat, for example made of plywood.
• a said insulating block comprises a base plate, and successively an intermediate plate and a cover plate parallel to the base plate and mutually spaced apart, and two blocks of fiber-reinforced polymer foam arranged respectively between the plate cover and the intermediate plate and between the intermediate plate and the base plate.
• the lower plate of the anchoring device cooperates directly with said intermediate plate at a corner area.
• the stiffness of the resiliently compressible member is less than a stiffness in the thickness direction of the insulating barrier adjacent to the anchor device.
• a ratio between the stiffness of the elastically compressible member and a stiffness in the thickness direction of the vessel wall equivalent to a spring made of the fiber-reinforced polymer foam having a section equal to that of the top plate is between 0.3 and 1.
• the thermally insulating barrier is a secondary thermally insulating barrier
• the insulating blocks are secondary insulating blocks
• the waterproofing membrane is a secondary waterproofing membrane
• the tank wall further comprising a thermally insulating barrier.
• the primary thermally insulating barrier comprising primary insulating blocks which are each superimposed on one of the secondary insulating blocks, wherein said stud sealingly passes through the secondary waterproofing membrane and the primary clamping member is held in abutment towards the bearing wall against a plurality of primary insulating blocks superimposed on said plurality of secondary insulating blocks so as to retain the plurality of primary insulating blocks towards the load-bearing wall.
• the fluid is a liquefied gas, such as liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied ethylene.
• a liquefied gas such as liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied ethylene.
• Such a tank can be part of an onshore storage installation, a storage installation placed on a seabed, for example to store LNG or be installed in a floating, coastal or deep-water structure, in particular an LNG vessel, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others.
• FSRU floating storage and regasification unit
• FPSO floating production and remote storage unit
• a vessel for transporting a fluid comprises a double hull and a said tank arranged in the double hull.
• the double shell comprises an internal shell forming the supporting wall of the tank.
• the invention also provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or land storage installation. and a pump for driving a fluid through insulated pipelines from or towards the floating or terrestrial storage facility to or from the vessel of the vessel.
• the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a vessel, in which a fluid is conveyed through isolated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation to or from the tank of the vessel. ship.
• The is a sectional view similar to the , showing yet another embodiment of the anchoring device.
• The is a sectional view similar to the , showing yet another embodiment of the anchoring device.
• The is a sectional view similar to the , showing yet another embodiment of the anchoring device.
• The is a sectional view similar to the , showing yet another embodiment of the anchoring device.
• The is a sectional view similar to the , showing yet another embodiment of the anchoring device.
• The is a sectional view similar to the , showing yet another embodiment of the anchoring device.
• The is a sectional view similar to the , showing yet another embodiment of the anchoring device.
• the tank wall 1 successively comprises, in the direction of the thickness, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 3 retained at a supporting wall 2, a secondary waterproof membrane 4 resting against the barrier secondary thermally insulating 3, a primary thermally insulating barrier 5 resting against the secondary waterproof membrane 4 and a primary waterproof membrane 6 intended to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank.
• a liquefied fluid such as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
• LNG liquefied natural gas
• the supporting wall 2 can in particular be formed by the hull or the double hull of a ship.
• the supporting wall 2 is typically part of a supporting structure comprising a plurality of walls defining the general shape of the tank, usually a polyhedral shape.
• the secondary thermally insulating barrier 3 comprises a plurality of secondary insulating blocks 7 which are anchored to the supporting wall 2 by means of anchoring devices 20 which will be described in detail below.
• the secondary insulating blocks 7 have a general parallelepipedal shape and are arranged in parallel rows.
• the secondary waterproofing membrane 4 comprises a continuous layer of metal strakes 8 with raised edges.
• the metal strakes 8 are welded by their raised edges on parallel welding supports which are fixed in the grooves 9 formed in the cover plates of the secondary insulating blocks 7.
• the metal straps 8 are, for example, made of Invar ®: c 'that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel, the coefficient of expansion of which is typically between 1.2.10 -6 and 2.10 -6 K -1 .
• the primary thermally insulating barrier 5 comprises a plurality of primary insulating blocks 11 have a general parallelepipedal shape and dimensions of length and width identical to those of the secondary insulating blocks 7. Each of the primary insulating blocks 11 is positioned to the right of one. secondary insulating blocks 7, in alignment with the latter according to the thickness direction of the wall of tank 1.
• the primary waterproofing membrane 6 can be made in different ways. It comprises here a continuous layer of metal strakes 8 with raised edges. As in the secondary sealing membrane 4, the metal strakes 8 are welded by their raised edges to parallel welding supports which are fixed in grooves made on the cover plates of the primary insulating blocks 11.
• a secondary insulating block 7 has been omitted to reveal shims 12 and beads of mastic 13 intended to compensate for defects in the flatness of the supporting wall 2.
• Positioning shims, not shown, can also be provided as described in publication WO-A-2018069585.
• the anchoring devices 20 are preferably positioned at the level of the four corners of the secondary insulating blocks 7 and primary insulating blocks 11. Each stack of a secondary insulating block 7 and of a primary insulating block 11 is anchored to the supporting wall 2. by means of four anchoring devices 20. In addition, each anchoring device 20 cooperates with the corners of four adjacent secondary insulating blocks 7 and with the corners of four adjacent primary insulating blocks 11.
• the secondary insulating block 7 here comprises a layer of insulating polymer foam 16 sandwiched between a bottom plate 14 and a cover plate 15.
• the bottom plate 14 and the cover plate 15 are for example made of plywood.
• the layer of insulating polymer foam 16 is bonded to the bottom plate 14 and the cover plate 15.
• the insulating polymer foam can in particular be a polyurethane-based foam, optionally reinforced with fibers.
• the anchoring device 20 is represented by the outline of the clamping assembly 30. It can be seen that the bottom plate 14 of each secondary insulating block 7 has a cutout 52 at its corner region to release a clearance 55 at the bottom. rectangular chimney shape which receives the anchoring device 20.
• the cover plate 15 and the layer of insulating polymer foam 16 of the secondary insulating block 7 comprise a recess 53 in the form of a rectangular chimney which reveals a corner portion 54 of the base plate 14.
• the corner portion 54 is intended to receive directly or indirectly the support of the anchoring device 20, for example by means of a spacer piece 50 which will be described below or of a rigid element integral with the base plate 14, such as a pillar of 'angle.
• the anchoring device 20 essentially comprises a clamping assembly 30 and an anchoring rod 22.
• the lower end of the anchoring rod 22 is received in a socket 23, the base of which is welded to the supporting wall 2 in one. central position of the clearance 55 between the corner areas of four adjacent secondary insulating blocks 7.
• the sleeve 23 forms a ball joint for the anchor rod 22.
• it accommodates a nut 18 into which is screwed the lower end of the anchor rod 22.
• the anchor rod 22 extends into the direction of thickness of the vessel wall 1 and passes between the adjacent primary insulating blocks 22.
• the clamping assembly 30 comprises successively in the thickness direction a lower plate 31, a spacer block 33 and an upper plate 32.
• the lower plate 31 and the upper plate 32 have the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped comprising two large opposite faces which are parallel to the supporting wall 2.
• the outline of the spacer block 33 is also rectangular and of the same size.
• the contour shape of the clamp assembly 30 could be different, for example hexagonal or circular.
• the lower plate 31 is held by the anchor rod 22 bearing in the direction of the supporting wall 2 against the corner portion 54 of each of the four adjacent secondary insulating blocks 7.
• the spacer piece 50 is arranged between the lower plate 31 and the corner portion 54 of each of the secondary insulating blocks 7 and thus transmits a clamping force to the bottom plate 14.
• the upper end 44 of the anchor rod 22 is engaged through a central bore 41 of the lower plate 31 and in a housing 45 formed in the spacer block 33.
• a nut 42 cooperates with a thread formed at the level of the upper end 44 of the anchor rod 22 so as to retain the lower plate 31 in the direction of the bearing wall 2.
• the anchoring device 20 further comprises one or more spring washers 43, of the Belleville type.
• the elastic washers 43 are threaded onto the anchor rod 22 between the nut 42 and the lower plate 31, which makes it possible to ensure elastic anchoring of the secondary insulating blocks 7 on the supporting wall 2.
• a locking member is welded locally on the upper end of the anchor rod 22, so as to prevent unscrewing of the nut 42.
• the spacer block 33 further comprises two bores which pass through it in the thickness direction of the vessel wall and in which are engaged two fixing screws 34 which connect the lower plate 31 and the upper plate 32 to two opposite faces. of the spacer block 33. More precisely, the lower end 35 of each fixing screw 34 is threaded and screwed into a tapped hole 38 of the lower plate 31. A slotted lock nut 37 is also screwed onto the lower end 35 against the upper surface of the lower plate 31, to lock in position the fixing screws 34 in the lower plate 31. In a manner not shown, the slotted lock nut 37 can also be placed against the lower surface of the lower plate 31. .
• each fixing screw has a head 36, for example conical, slidably housed in a bore 46 of the upper plate 32.
• the dimension of this maximum spacing is defined by the useful length of the fixing screws 34 between the lower plate 31 and the upper plate 32. This length can be finely adjusted during manufacturing, by adjusting the length engaged by screwing into the threaded holes 38.
• the spacer block 33 has a lower face and an upper face 48 parallel to the plates 32 and 31.
• the thickness of the spacer block 33 between the lower face and the upper face 48 defines a minimum spacing between the lower plate 31 and the upper plate 32. This minimum spacing is achieved in a stop position, shown to the right of the , wherein the lower plate 31 and the upper plate 32 abut against the lower face and the upper face 48 of the spacer block 33.
• the dimensional difference between the minimum spacing and the maximum spacing is represented by the arrow 40 and corresponds to a sliding play of the head 36 in the bore 46. Its dimension is determined according to the structure of the wall of tank and operating conditions of the tank so that the upper plate 32 can generally follow the depression of the cover plate 15 of the secondary insulating blocks 7 during the operation of the tank, in particular under the effect of the thermal contraction and static and dynamic pressures received by the tank wall 1 in operation. These pressures can in particular cause creep of the layer of insulating polymer foam 16. This dimension is typically a few millimeters.
• Elastic elements 39 for example Belleville washers or any other compression springs, are engaged on the two fixing screws 34 between the spacer block 33 and the upper plate 32 and hold the plates 32 and 31 in the separated position shown on the , in a state of rest. More precisely, the elastic elements 39 create a clearance equal to the dimensional difference 40 between the spacer block 33 and the upper plate 32. In response to a pressure force exerted on the upper plate 32, the elastic elements 39 are compressed by erasing this play gradually, up to the stop position of the lower face 49 of the upper plate 32 against the upper face 48 of the spacer block 33.
• the elastic elements 39 are here housed in a stage 19 of large diameter of the bores receiving the fixing screws 34 and bear against a shoulder at the bottom of the stage 19. In the stop position, the elastic elements 39 are entirely contained in floor 19.
• each fixing screw 34 carries a stack of Belleville washers arranged successively in mutually inverted positions, preferably in an odd number, for example 5, so that the two ends of the stack are formed by the largest diameters of Belleville washers.
• the fixing screws 34 are configured to generate a compressive preload on the elastic members 39 in the rest position, so that the upper plate 32 is able to receive moderate loads without sinking.
• a preload of about 1000N is applied, which makes it possible to support the load of an adult man who could walk in line with the anchoring device 20 during the construction of the tank.
• the stiffness of the elastic elements 39 is determined as a function of the structure of the vessel wall and the operating conditions of the vessel so that the upper plate 32 can generally follow the depression of the cover plate 15 of the secondary insulating blocks 7. during the operation of the tank, in particular under the effect of thermal contraction and of the static and dynamic pressures received by the wall of the tank 1 in operation. These pressures can in particular cause creep of the layer of insulating polymer foam 16.
• the elastic elements 39 can be positioned differently to fulfill the same functions.
• the fixing screws 34 can be reversed, with the screw head 36 on the side of the lower plate 31 and then positioning the elastic elements 39 between the lower plate 31 and the spacer block 33.
• the spacer block 33 is divided into two parts in the thickness direction and the elastic members 39 are disposed between the two parts.
• the screw head 36 is positioned in the upper plate 32 and the elastic elements 39 are positioned between the lower plate 31 and the spacer block 33.
• the upper plate 32 and the spacer block 33 slide together with respect to the fixing screws 34.
• the stop in rotation of the fixing screws 34 with respect to the lower plate 31 can be achieved by a weld point or a lock nut, not shown. On the the plates 32 and 31 are shown in the stop position.
• the fixing screws 34 are reversed, with a screw head 36A on the side of the lower plate 31, the elastic elements 39 being in turn always positioned between the upper plate 32 and the spacer block 33.
• the stopper in rotation of the fixing screws 34 relative to the lower plate 31 is here achieved by making the screw heads 36A integral with the lower plate 31, for example by welding, in particular by spot welding.
• the threaded end 35 of the fixing screws 34 is received in a hole 38A, possibly tapped, that the upper plate 32 has.
• a lock nut 37A preferably not slotted, is screwed onto this threaded end 35.
• the lock nut 37A is further welded to the threaded end 35, in particular by spot welding. This prevents the locknut 37A from unscrewing from the threaded end 35.
• the screw head 36 is replaced by a nut 36B which is threaded on a threaded end 35A.
• the fixing screws are replaced by fixing rods 34 which are threaded at their two ends 35 and 35A.
• the threaded end 35A is screwed into a threaded hole 38A presented by the upper plate 32.
• the threaded end 35 is itself screwed into the hole 38, possibly threaded, that the lower plate 31 has.
• fixing 34 relative to the upper plate 32 is further achieved by making the nuts 36B integral with the upper plate 32, for example by welding, in particular by spot welding.
• a stop in rotation of the fixing rods 34 relative to the lower plate 31 can be achieved in addition by making the threaded end 35 integral with the lower plate 31, for example by welding, in particular by spot welding.
• the stop in rotation of the fixing screws 34 is achieved by an elongated bar 90 coupled to the screw head 36.
• the bar 90 is received in two opposite notches 91A and 91B opening into the bore 46.
• the cooperation between the bar 90 and these notches 91A and 91B blocks the corresponding fixing screw 34 in rotation with respect to the upper plate 32.
• the bar 90 may for example be metallic.
• the bar 90 can be fixed to the screw head 36 by clipping, by welding points, or even by forcibly pushing the bar 90 into a housing (not shown) which the screw head 36 carries.
• threaded lower end 35 of the fixing screw 34 can be simply screwed into the threaded hole 38 of the lower plate 31, without a lock nut or weld point.
• the notch 91 may open into a side face of the upper plate 32 as shown in , but as a variant, the notch 91 may not lead to this side face.
• This element 90C is of the key type, that is to say it comprises a central washer 90C2 from which extends a tongue 90C1 .
• the tongue 90C1 is received in the notch 91 and thus blocks the corresponding fixing screw 34 in rotation with respect to the upper plate 32.
• the central washer 90C2 is housed in the bore 46.
• the fixing of the central washer 90C2 to the screw head 36 can be produced by clipping, by welding points, or even by forcing the element 90C into a housing (not shown) which the screw head 36 carries.
• the element 90C may have two opposed tabs, respectively received in the notches 91A and 91B.
• the element 90D is of the key type, that is to say it comprises a central cup 90D2 from from which extends a tongue 90D1.
• the tongue 90D1 is received in the notch 91 and thus blocks the corresponding fixing screw 34 in rotation relative to the upper plate 32.
• the central cup 90D2 is housed in the bore 46.
• the central cup 90D2 has a flared shape and complementary to the shape of the screw head 36.
• the screw head 36 is received in the central cup 90D2, the central cup 90D2 then being disposed between the screw head 36 and the bottom of the bore 46.
• the fixing of the screw head 36 to the central cup 90D2 can be carried out by clipping, by welding points, or even by forcing the screw head 36 into the flared shape of the central cup 90D2.
• the central cup 90D2 can optionally have a notch 90D3, so that the central cup 90D2 has an overall shape in the form of a "C" when viewed from above.
• the notch 90D3 can for example be diametrically opposed to the tongue 90D1 with respect to the center of the central cup 90D2.
• the central washer 90C2 may also have a notch similar to the notch 90D3, for example diametrically opposed to the tongue 90C1.
• compression springs 69 for example helical springs, are engaged on the two fixing screws 34 between the spacer block 33 and the upper plate 32 and maintain the plates 32 and 31 in the separated position shown in the figure. , in a state of rest. More specifically, as elastic elements, the compression springs 69 create a clearance equal to the dimensional difference 40 between the spacer block 33 and the upper plate 32. In response to a pressure force exerted on the upper plate 32, the springs 69 are compressed by gradually eliminating this play, up to the abutment position of the lower face 49 of the upper plate 32 against the upper face 48 of the spacer block 33.
• the compression springs 69 are here housed in a stage 19 of large diameter of the bores receiving the fixing screws 34 and bear against a shoulder at the bottom of stage 19. This shoulder can be provided with a spring seat 69A for receive the support of the compression spring 69. In the stop position, the compression springs 69 are entirely contained in the stage 19.
• the stop in rotation of the fixing screws 34 is achieved by an elongated bar 90 which cooperates with a single notch 91 opening into the bore 46, this notch opening onto a lateral face of the upper plate 32 as shown. on the .
• the notch 91 may not lead to this side face.
• the threaded lower end 35 of the fixing screw 34 can simply be screwed into the threaded hole 38 of the lower plate 31, without a lock nut or weld point.
• the setscrews 34 are configured to generate a compression preload on the compression springs 69 in the rest position, so that the upper plate 32 is able to receive moderate loads without sinking. For example, a preload of about 1000N is applied, which makes it possible to support the load of an adult man who could walk in line with the anchoring device 20 during the construction of the tank.
• the stiffness of the compression springs 69 is determined as a function of the structure of the vessel wall and the operating conditions of the vessel so that the upper plate 32 can generally follow the depression of the cover plate 15 of the secondary insulating blocks. 7 during the operation of the tank, in particular under the effect of thermal contraction and of the static and dynamic pressures received by the wall of the tank 1 in operation. These pressures can in particular cause creep of the layer of insulating polymer foam 16.
• the compression springs 69 can be positioned differently to fulfill the same functions.
• the fixing screws 34 can be reversed, with the screw head 36 on the side of the lower plate 31 and then positioning the compression springs 69 between the lower plate 31 and the spacer block 33.
• the compression springs 69 are positioned between the upper plate 32 and the spacer block 33.
• This variant differs from that of the in that the spacer block 33 does not have a stage, so that the compression springs 69 bear directly on the lower plate 31.
• the lower plate 31 can optionally be provided with spring seats (not shown on the figure). ) to receive the support of the helical springs 69.
• the bores receiving the fixing screws 34 and the compression springs 69 here have a uniform diameter over the thickness of the spacer block 33.
• the variant of the is otherwise identical to that of the and is not described in detail again.
• a lock nut 37B preferably not slotted, is screwed onto the threaded lower end 35 of the fixing screw 34.
• the lock nut 37B is received in a groove 92 which the lower plate 31 has and in which the hole 38, possibly tapped, opens out.
• the groove 92 opens onto the lower face of the lower plate 31.
• the groove 92 has two facing faces with which two separate faces of the locknut 37B cooperate. This cooperation blocks the fixing screw 34 in rotation relative to the lower plate 31.
• the locknut 37B is a square nut.
• the locknut 37B can also be of another shape as long as it has two distinct faces which can cooperate with two faces facing the groove 92.
• the locknut 37B can be of hexagonal shape, two adjacent faces of the hexagon then cooperating with two faces facing the groove 92.
• a stop in rotation of the fixing screws 34 relative to the upper plate 32 is further achieved by making the screw heads 36 integral with the upper plate 32, for example by welding, in particular by spot welding.
• the groove 92 may open onto a lateral face of the lower plate 31 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, but as a variant, the groove 92 may not open onto this lateral face.
• the spacer piece 350 has a blind hole 60 extending in the extension of each fixing screw 34 as will be detailed below.
• the spacer block 33 can be fixed to the lower plate 31, in order to avoid any relative movement between the spacer block 33 and the lower plate. 31, in particular in the direction in which the fixing screws 34 extend.
• This fixing of the spacer block 33 to the lower plate 31 can be effected by screwing and / or by riveting and / or by gluing.
• the spacer block 33 can be fixed to the upper plate 32, for example by screwing and / or by riveting and / or by gluing, in particular when the elastic elements 39 or 69 are positioned between the lower plate 31 and the spacer block 33.
• a layer of polymer foam can be placed on the spacer block 33 facing the upper plate 32 or on the upper plate 32 facing the. spacer block 33.
• the polymer foam layer 68 is fixed to the upper face 48 of the spacer block 33, on either side of the upper end 44 of the anchor rod 22.
• the thickness of the uncompressed polymer foam layer 68 is taken equal to the desired dimensional deviation 40.
• the layer of polymer foam 68 when the layer of polymer foam 68 is not compressed, the latter extends between the face 48 of the spacer block 33 and the lower face 49 of the plate 32 and thus defines the dimensional difference 40 between the plates 32 and 31 in their position of maximum spacing.
• the polymeric foam layer 68 therefore materializes the desired dimensional deviation 40, which facilitates the assembly of the clamp assembly 30.
• the stiffness of the uncompressed polymeric foam layer 68 is very small compared to the stiffness of the compression springs 69, so that the compression of the polymeric foam layer 68 does not significantly interfere with the compression of the springs. compression 69.
• the thickness of the uncompressed polymer foam layer 68 is between 2 and 8 mm, so that the polymer foam layer 68 has a thickness of between 1 and 6 mm in the stop position.
• the polymeric foam layer 68 can be made from a polyurethane, polyethyl or polypropylene foam or else a melamine foam, in particular a melamine foam from the family of foams sold by the company BASF SE under the name Basotect®.
• the polymeric foam layer 68 can be attached to the upper face 48 of the spacer block 33 by gluing or include an adhesive strip, for example.
• the geometry of the polymer foam layer 68 shown in is only an example.
• the polymer foam layer 68 also extends to the side edges of the spacer block 33, around the bores of the spacer block 33 receiving the compression springs 69, so as not to risk coming into contact with the turns of the compression springs 69.
• the layer of polymer foam 68 may also be placed only around said bores.
• the tank wall 1 could be limited to the secondary insulating barrier 3 and the secondary waterproof membrane 4 to produce a single membrane tank.
• the anchoring device 20 also includes a primary stage.
• the upper plate 32 has a threaded bore 47 in its center, in which is mounted a threaded base of a stud 27 intended for anchoring the primary insulating blocks 11.
• the stud 27 passes through a bore made through it. a metal strake 8 of the secondary waterproof membrane 4.
• the stud 27 has a flange which is welded at its periphery, around the bore, to ensure the tightness of the secondary waterproof membrane 4.
• the primary stage of the anchoring device 20 also comprises a primary support plate 28 which bears in the direction of the bearing wall 2 on a support zone formed in each of the four adjacent primary insulating blocks 11 so as to hold against the secondary waterproof membrane 4.
• each bearing zone 29 is formed by an overhanging part of a bottom plate of the primary insulating block 11.
• a nut 29 cooperates with a thread formed at the upper end of the stud 27 so as to ensure the fixing of the primary support plate 28 on the stud 27.
• the anchoring device 20 further comprises a Belleville-type elastic washer threaded onto the stud 27 between the nut 28 and the primary support plate 28, which ensures elastic anchoring of the primary insulating blocks 11 on the secondary waterproof membrane 4.
• the spacer part 50, 150 or 250 is for example made of plywood to limit the thermal bridge.
• the spacer piece 50, 150 or 250 preferably has a section identical to the lower plate 3, of rectangular shape in the embodiments shown. It can be formed from a small number of elongated pieces having simple shapes, rigidly assembled together, for example by stapling, screwing and / or gluing.
• the central through-housing 51 is filled with a thermal insulation around the anchor rod 22, for example glass wool, wadding, expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam.
• the spacer part 50 or 250 is formed of two flat rectangular plates 58 forming the main faces of the spacer part and two cleats 59 arranged between the two flat rectangular plates along the edges thereof. Each of the four parts thus forms a wall of the central through-housing 51, which has a square or rectangular section.
• the spacer piece 150 is formed of four identical elongated profiled pieces having a section in the form of a rectangular trapezoid, an inclined side of which forms a respective wall of the central through housing 51, which has a section in the shape of a diamond. To limit the thermal bridge, longitudinal cells are formed on either side of the central through housing 51 and also filled with an insulating material.
• This spacer piece 350 is identical to the spacer piece 250 except that each cleat 59 has a blind hole 60, each blind hole 60 being intended to come in the extension of 'a fixing screw 34 so as to be able to receive a part of this fixing screw 34.
• the spacer part 50 can also have such blind holes 60.
• the longitudinal cells formed on either side of the central through housing 51 can be only partially filled with the insulating material, so that the insulating material and the longitudinal cells together form blind holes similar to the blind holes 60.
• FIGS. 15 to 17 together illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a thermal insulating block 451 which can be received in the central through housing 51.
• the thermal insulating block 451 has a complementary external shape to the central through housing 51, here a parallelepipedal exterior shape.
• the thermal insulation block 451 is here made of a thermally insulating polymer foam.
• the polymeric foam can be of low density, that is to say a density of between 10 kg / m 3 and 60 kg / m 3 , more particularly between 10 kg / m 3 and 30 kg / m 3 .
• the polymer foam can be a polyurethane foam or else a melamine foam, in particular a melamine foam from the family of foams sold by the company BASF SE under the name Basotect®.
• the polymeric foam can optionally be reinforced with fibers, for example glass fibers.
• the thermal insulation block 451 has a through hole 452.
• the through hole 452 is intended to receive the anchor rod 22 when the spacer piece is placed under the clamping assembly. As described above.
• the through-hole 452 has a section which widens going from the upper end of the anchor rod 22 towards the lower end of the anchor rod 22. In particular, this can be obtained by giving the hole crossing 452 a frustoconical section as shown in .
• the through hole 452 may also have a section which widens going from the lower end of the anchor rod 22 towards the upper end of the rod of. anchoring 22. In particular, this can be obtained by giving the through-hole a frustoconical section.
• the thermal insulating block 551 has a complementary outer shape of the central through housing 51, here a parallelepipedal outer shape.
• the thermal insulation block 551 is here made of glass wool. It may optionally be made up of two adjoining glass wool sub-blocks 552.
• the thermal insulation block 551 surrounds the anchor rod 22 (not shown in the ) when the spacer piece is placed under the clamping assembly 30 as described above. To do this, the thermal insulating block 551 may have in its thickness a notch 554 which extends parallel to the anchor rod 22. The notch 554 allows the anchor rod 22 to pass through the block. of thermal insulation 551 while allowing the elastic return of the glass wool to grip the anchor rod 22 once the latter has passed through the block of thermal insulation 551.
• the block of thermal insulation 551 can also be carried out in the same way with cellulose or polyester wadding.
• sheets 555 may be disposed on two opposite faces of the thermal insulation block 551, more particularly the two larger faces of the thermal insulation block 551 which face the two larger faces of the central through-housing 51.
• the sheets 555 can be made of glass fabric, kraft paper or even a polymer such as PVC. Sheets 555 facilitate the sliding of the thermal insulation block 551 over the faces of the central through-housing 51 when the thermal insulation block 551 is inserted into the central through-housing 51. Alternatively, only one of the sheets 555 may be. present, and / or additional sheets not shown can be added on the faces of the thermal insulation block 551 which are not covered by the sheets 555.
• FIGS 19 and 20 yet another variant of a spacer piece together with the clamping assembly 30, the being a sectional view and the being a partial perspective view from above of the spacer piece.
• a lock nut 37B preferably not slotted, is screwed onto the threaded lower end 35 of the fixing screw 34.
• the lock nut 37B is received in a socket. groove 660 which the spacer piece 650 has.
• the spacer piece 650 is here formed, like the spacer piece 250, of two flat rectangular plates 58 forming the main faces of the spacer piece 650 and two cleats 59 arranged between the two flat rectangular plates 58 along the edges of these.
• a groove 660 is formed in each of the two cleats 59.
• the groove 660 has two facing faces with which two separate faces of the locknut 37B cooperate. This cooperation blocks the fixing screw 34 in rotation relative to the lower plate 31.
• the locknut 37B is a square nut.
• the lock nut 37B can also be of another shape as long as it has two distinct faces which can cooperate with two faces facing the groove 660.
• the lock nut 37B can be of hexagonal shape, two opposite faces of the hexagon then cooperating with two faces facing the groove 660.
• a stop in rotation of the fixing screws 34 relative to the upper plate 32 is further achieved by making the screw heads 36 integral with the upper plate 32, for example by welding, in particular by spot welding.
• the clamping assembly 30 is in the separated position corresponding to the maximum spacing when the tank is empty and at room temperature, that is to say under the conditions of its initial construction. In this state, the position of the top plate 32 is adjusted to align with the cover plate 15, so as to provide a uniform supporting surface for the secondary waterproof membrane 4.
• Thermal contractions are not identical in all materials and the insulating polymer foam layers 16 tend to contract more than the plywood constituting the spacer 50 and the spacer block 33.
• the pressure loads are different depending on the position of the tank wall at the bottom, on the ceiling or on the sides. All the walls receive at least the operating pressure of the vapor phase, which is for example 2kPa or 5kPa (20 or 50 mbar).
• the stiffness of the elastic elements 39 or 69 can be dimensioned so that, after cooling and under the operating pressure of the vapor phase, the elastic compression of the elastic elements 39 or 69 allows a further lowering of the upper plate 32 which is greater than or equal to the excess contraction and creep of the secondary insulating blocks 7 relative to the thermal contraction of the anchoring device 20.
• This excess contraction and creep of the secondary insulating blocks 7 is for example approximately 1 mm under pressure of the vapor phase.
• the upper plate 32 follows the level of the cover plates 15 and does not run the risk of generating a protruding zone liable to shear the secondary waterproof membrane 6.
• the stiffness of the elastic members 39 or 69 and the size of the gap 40 can also be sized so that the clamp assembly 30 reaches the stop position, corresponding to the minimum spacing under the following conditions: - or under hydrostatic loading, when the overlying primary insulating block receives maximum cargo pressure; - or under dynamic loading, when the overlying primary insulating block receives an impact pressure due to the sloshing of the cargo exceeding a predetermined nominal threshold.
• the elastic elements 39 or 69 increase the flexibility of the anchoring device 20 and thus limit the risk of locally forming a hard point or a protruding zone which could accelerate the aging of the secondary waterproof membrane 6.
• the total stiffness of the elastic member acting between the two plates is less than the equivalent stiffness of the thermally insulating barrier at the operating temperature in the immediate vicinity of the device. 'anchoring.
• it is the insulating polymer foam layer 16 which controls the stiffness of the thermally insulating barrier.
• the total stiffness of the elastic members 39 or 69 is about 1880N / mm while the stiffness in the thickness direction of the vessel wall equivalent to a spring made of the insulating polymer foam 16 having an equal cross section. to that of the upper plate is approximately 1920N / mm, ie a stiffness ratio equal to 0.98. More generally, this ratio could be chosen between 0.3 and 1.
• the structure of the secondary insulating block 7 is described above by way of example. Also, in another embodiment, the secondary insulating blocks 7 are likely to have another general structure, for example that described in document WO-A-2012127141.
• the secondary insulating blocks 7 are then made in the form of a box comprising a bottom plate, a cover plate and load-bearing webs extending, in the thickness direction of the tank wall 1, between the bottom plate and the bottom plate. cover plate and delimiting a plurality of compartments filled with an insulating lining, such as perlite, glass wool or rock wool.
• the layer of insulating polymer foam is here divided into two lower and upper layers 16b and 16a separated by an intermediate plate 10, for example made of plywood, glued to them.
• the length of the upper layer 16a is smaller than the length of the lower layer 16b and reveals a flange 10a at two longitudinal ends of the intermediate plate 10.
• a rigid pillar 17 extends in the thickness direction of the lower layer 16b between the intermediate plate 10 and the bottom plate 114, in recesses made at the four corners of the lower layer 16b.
• the rigid pillar 17 is partially in line with the rims 10a to take up the clamping force of the anchoring device 20, the lower complaint 31 of which can here be applied directly to the rim 10a. Further details of the secondary insulating block 107 can be found in publication WO-A-2014096600.
• the primary insulating block 11 can be made in different ways, for example in the form of a layer of insulating polymer foam sandwiched between a bottom plate and a cover plate like the secondary insulating block 7.
• the bottom plate then has grooves for receiving the raised edges of strakes 8 of the secondary sealing membrane 4.
• the cover plate also has grooves for receiving welding supports.
• the structure of the primary insulating panel 11 is described above by way of example. Also, in another embodiment, the primary insulating panels 22 are likely to have another general structure, for example that described in document WO-A-2012127141.
• the technique described above for producing a tank wall having one or two waterproof membranes can also be used in different types of tanks, for example to constitute a double membrane tank for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in an onshore installation or in a floating structure such as an LNG vessel or other.
• LNG liquefied natural gas
• a cutaway view of an LNG carrier 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship.
• the wall of the vessel 71 comprises a primary watertight barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the vessel, a secondary watertight barrier arranged between the primary watertight barrier and the double hull 72 of the vessel, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the vessel. primary watertight barrier and the secondary watertight barrier and between the secondary watertight barrier and the double shell 72.
• loading / unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of suitable connectors, to a maritime or port terminal for transferring a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.
• the shows an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76 and an onshore installation 77.
• the loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed off-shore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the movable arm 74.
• the movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipes 73.
• the movable arm 74 can be swiveled and adapts to all sizes of LNG carriers.
• a connecting pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 78.
• the loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the onshore installation 77.
• the latter comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75.
• the underwater pipe 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the installation on land 77 over a great distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.
• pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps fitted to the shore installation 77 and / or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Devices Affording Protection Of Roads Or Walls For Sound Insulation (AREA)

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• 2020
  • 2020-05-26 FR FR2005545A patent/FR3110951B1/fr active Active
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• 2021
  • 2021-02-19 FR FR2101660A patent/FR3110953B1/fr active Active
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  • 2021-05-25 JP JP2022572479A patent/JP7553606B2/ja active Active
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