CN112797311A - Sealed and thermally insulated tank - Google Patents

Sealed and thermally insulated tank Download PDF

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Publication number
CN112797311A
CN112797311A CN202011259009.6A CN202011259009A CN112797311A CN 112797311 A CN112797311 A CN 112797311A CN 202011259009 A CN202011259009 A CN 202011259009A CN 112797311 A CN112797311 A CN 112797311A
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
insulating
inter
seal
space
insulating seal
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Pending
Application number
CN202011259009.6A
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Chinese (zh)
Inventor
让-达米安·卡普德维尔
夏尔·然贝尔
罗南·勒比汉
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Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
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Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
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Publication of CN112797311A publication Critical patent/CN112797311A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • F17C3/025—Bulk storage in barges or on ships
    • 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
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/001—Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels
    • 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
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/004—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels for large storage vessels not under pressure
    • 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
    • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
    • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
    • F17C3/08—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation by vacuum spaces, e.g. Dewar flask
    • 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
    • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
    • F17C9/02—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
    • 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
    • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
    • F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
    • 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
    • F17C2209/224—Press-fitting; Shrink-fitting
    • 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
    • F17C2209/23—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations
    • F17C2209/232—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations of 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
    • F17C2209/23—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations
    • F17C2209/238—Filling of insulants
    • 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
    • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
    • F17C2260/031—Dealing with losses due to heat transfer
    • F17C2260/033—Dealing with losses due to heat transfer by enhancing insulation
    • 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

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulated can and a method of manufacturing the same, the can comprising: a thermal insulation barrier comprising a plurality of juxtaposed insulation panel members defining an inter-panel space between two adjacent insulation panel members; a sealing membrane comprising a sealing membrane layer anchored to the insulating plate member and straddling the inter-plate space, the can further comprising: an insulating seal including a compressible insulating core and a surrounding member covering the insulating core, the insulating seal being accommodated in the inter-board space in a state where the insulating seal is compressed in a width direction of the inter-board space, an inner face of the insulating seal being spaced from the sealing film layer by a distance in a thickness direction of the thermal insulating barrier; an insulating strip received in the inter-board space and interposed between an inner face of the insulating seal and the sealing film layer in a thickness direction of the thermal insulating barrier, the insulating strip having a flat inner face. A transport vessel for transporting the cold liquid product, a transfer system for transferring the cold liquid product and a method for loading or unloading the transport vessel are also provided.

Description

Sealed and thermally insulated tank
Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulated cans with a membrane. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulated tanks for storing and/or transporting liquefied gases at low temperatures, such as tanks for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG) having a temperature for example between-50 ℃ and 0 ℃, or tanks for transporting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at atmospheric pressure and at about-162 ℃. These tanks may be installed onshore or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be used for transporting liquefied gas or for receiving liquefied gas as fuel for propelling the floating structure.
In one embodiment, the liquefied gas is LNG stored at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of about-162 ℃, i.e. a mixture with a high methane content. Other liquefied gases, in particular ethane, propane, butane or ethylene, are also conceivable. The liquefied gas may also be stored under pressure, for example at a relative pressure of between 2 and 20 bar, in particular between 2 and 4 bar.
Background
Wall structures for producing flat walls of sealed and thermally insulated tanks are disclosed, for example, in FR2724623 or FR 2599468. Such a tank wall comprises a multilayer structure comprising, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermal insulation barrier, a secondary sealing film, a primary thermal insulation barrier and a primary sealing film intended to be in contact with the liquid contained in the tank.
Such tanks comprise juxtaposed insulating (adiabatic) panels, each of which forms: a second-stage thermal insulation barrier portion, a second-stage sealing film portion covering the second-stage thermal insulation barrier portion; and a thermal insulation barrier portion partially covering the second-stage sealing film portion. In order to ensure the continuity of the secondary sealing film, a flexible sealing film layer is sealingly anchored on the secondary sealing film portion of the adjacent insulating sheet member. Furthermore, in order to ensure continuity of the thermal insulation properties of the thermal insulation barrier, a flat insulation seal is inserted in the inter-panel space defined by adjacent insulation panel members.
WO2019155158 discloses a sealed and thermally insulated tank wherein insulating seals are arranged between adjacent insulating sheet elements in order to prevent convection of gas between said adjacent insulating sheet elements. Such an insulating seal is constituted by an insulating core enclosed in a surround. The surround defines an interior space of the insulating seal. The insulating seal is inserted in the inter-panel space in the following state: i.e. the state in which the insulating seal is compressed under the effect of the vacuum created inside its inner space. After the insulating seal is inserted in this compressed state, the vacuum is released to allow the insulating seal to expand and occupy all of the space between the two panels that forms the inter-panel space.
However, even after the vacuum is released, the insulating seal is still in a semi-compressed state between adjacent insulating panel members. This semi-compressed state makes it possible to compensate for variations in the width of the space between the plates, for example when the tank is cooled. This semi-compressed state of the insulating seal causes irregularities on the inner face of the inter-plate space, and typically the surround forms wrinkles that create uninhibited undulations on the inner face of the insulating seal. In the case where the second-stage sealing film includes a sealing film layer (film, membrane) covering the inter-panel space with the insulating seal inserted therein, these irregularities on the inner face of the insulating seal may interfere with the sealing film layer and make it difficult to apply the sealing film layer on the insulating panel.
Disclosure of Invention
The idea forming the basis of the present invention is to propose a sealed and thermally insulated can with a membrane that is easy to manufacture. In particular, the idea forming the basis of the present invention is to allow easy mounting of a sealing film layer that ensures the continuity of the sealing film between two adjacent insulating sheet members. Furthermore, the idea forming the basis of the present invention is to provide a thermal insulation barrier with good insulation properties. In particular, the idea forming the basis of the present invention is to limit convection in the inter-board space without interfering with the installation of the sealing film layer in conformity with the inter-board space, which ensures the continuity of the sealing film.
According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a sealed and thermally insulated tank comprising a thermal insulation barrier and a sealing membrane disposed over the thermal insulation barrier, the thermal insulation barrier comprising a plurality of juxtaposed insulation panel members defining an inter-panel space between two of said adjacent insulation panel members, the sealing membrane comprising a sealing membrane layer anchored to said insulation panel members and straddling the inter-panel space,
the tank further comprises:
an insulating seal including a compressible insulating core and a surrounding member covering the insulating core, the insulating seal being accommodated in an inter-board space in a state where the insulating seal is compressed in a width direction of the inter-board space, an inner face of the insulating seal being spaced apart from the sealing film layer by a distance in a thickness direction of the thermal insulating barrier,
an insulating strip received in the inter-panel space and interposed between the inner face of the insulating seal and the sealing film layer in a thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier, the insulating strip having a flat inner face.
By these features, the can has good thermal insulation properties while being easy to manufacture. In particular, the presence of the insulating seal and of the insulating strip makes it possible to ensure good continuity of the thermal insulating barrier without interfering with the mounting of the sealing film layer that ensures the continuity of the sealing film. In particular, due to the distance between the inner face of the insulating seal and the sealing membrane layer, the deformation of said inner face associated with the compression of the insulating seal does not interfere with the mounting of the sealing membrane layer. Thus, the sealing film layer may be installed manually or automatically by a machine that requires a flat surface to work properly. Furthermore, the insulating strips may supplement the insulation between the inner face of the insulating seal and the sealing membrane layer, while providing a flat surface facing the sealing membrane layer that does not interfere with the mounting of the sealing membrane layer.
According to embodiments, such a sealed and thermally insulated tank may comprise one or more of the following features.
According to one embodiment, the insulating seal has a width in the free state, taken in the width direction of the space between the plates, of between 20mm and 40mm, preferably between 30mm and 40mm and preferably 35 mm. The free state of the insulating seal means the following state: the insulating core is neither compressed by the surrounds nor by the insulating seals being compressed by the insulating plate members interposed therebetween under the action of the vacuum in the interior space defined by the surrounds.
According to one embodiment, the inter-plate space has a width of between 20mm and 33mm, and preferably between 27mm and 33mm, preferably 30 mm.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip is flexible.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip has a width in the free state which is smaller than the width of the insulating seal in the free state.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip has a width, considered in the width direction of the inter-board space, which is smaller than or equal to the width of said inter-board space. According to one embodiment, the insulating strip has a width, considered in the width direction of the space between the plates, which is less than or equal to: the nominal width of the inter-board space minus the tolerance used to position the dielectric boards defining the inter-board space.
By these features, the insulating strip is inserted in the inter-board space without being compressed in the width direction of the inter-board space, and thus still has a flat inner face.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip has a thickness in a free state, considered in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier, of between 10mm and 35 mm. The free state of the insulating strip refers to a state in which the insulating strip is not subjected to external stress, such as compression between the sealing film layer and the inner face of the insulating seal.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip is compressed in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier. Thus, the insulating strip can follow the deformation of the inner face of the insulating seal, so that it can fill the inter-panel space, including the space between the corrugations formed by the inner face of the insulating seal.
The insulating strips may be made of a variety of materials. Thus, the insulating strip may be made of a flexible fibrous material or a flexible foam, with or without a covering sheet.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip comprises a flexible polymer foam layer.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip comprises an insulating body and a smooth inner covering sheet forming a flat inner face of the insulating strip.
According to one embodiment, the inner cover sheet of the insulation strip is stiffer than the insulation body of the insulation strip, such that compression of the insulation strip in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier, for example between the sealing film layer and the insulating seal, causes compression of the insulation body without deforming the flat face of the insulation strip formed by the cover sheet.
The insulating body of the insulating strip may be made of a variety of materials. According to one embodiment, the insulating strip comprises a layer of glass wool. According to one embodiment, the insulating body of the insulating strip is made of glass wool. According to one embodiment, the insulating body of the insulating strip is made of rock wool. According to one embodiment, the insulating body of the insulating strip is made of a low density foam, for example of polyurethane or polyethylene or polypropylene or melamine foam. Preferably, such low density foam is not fibrous, in order to avoid damage to the sealing film layer which ensures the continuity of the sealing film. Furthermore, in the case of an insulating strip comprising an insulating body made of low-density foam, the insulating strip may not comprise a covering sheet covering the insulating body, the flat inner face of the insulating strip being constituted directly by the flat inner face of the insulating body.
According to one embodiment, the insulating body of the insulating strip has, in the free state, a thickness considered in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier equal to the width of the core of the insulating seal considered in the width direction of the inter-plate space, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the body of the insulating strip.
According to one embodiment, the insulating body of the insulating strip has a thickness in a free state, considered in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier, of between 10mm and 35mm and preferably 35 mm.
By these features, the core of the insulating seal and the insulating body of the insulating strip can be made from a single insulating block. In particular, a single insulating block with a given thickness dimension may: cutting into a first length and a first width in such a manner that a width of the core, taken in a width direction of the inter-board space, corresponds to a thickness of the insulating block, so as to form a core of the insulating seal; and the insulating body is cut into a second length and a second width corresponding to the thickness of the insulating block so as to form the body of the insulating strip. Furthermore, in the case of insulating blocks made of glass wool, these features make it possible to quickly and easily obtain the insulating body of the insulating strip and the core of the insulating seal, with the layering direction being vertical.
The cover sheet may be made of a variety of materials. According to one embodiment, the covering sheet is made of kraft paper. According to one embodiment, the covering sheet is made of a composite or polymer film layer.
According to one embodiment, the interior cladding sheet has a width, considered in the width direction of the inter-sheet space, which is smaller than the width of the inter-sheet space. Such a covering sheet can thus be inserted in the inter-panel space without being deformed by compression between the insulating panels delimiting the inter-panel space, so that the insulating strip still has a flat inner face. According to one embodiment, the insulating body has a width, considered in the width direction of the inter-plate space, which is larger than the width of the inter-plate space. Therefore, when the cover sheet has a width smaller than that of the inter-sheet space, particularly when the cover sheet is harder than the insulating body, the insulating body can be slightly compressed in the inter-sheet space while avoiding deformation of the cover sheet, and has a flat inner surface.
According to one embodiment, the core of the insulating seal comprises a glass wool layer with a layering direction parallel to the width direction of the inter-panel space, and the insulating strip comprises a glass wool layer with a layering direction parallel to the thickness direction of the thermal insulating barrier.
By these features, the insulating seal can be easily compressed in the width direction of the inter-panel space, and the insulating strip can be easily compressed in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip is fixed to the inner face of the insulating seal. Such an insulating strip fixed to the inner face of the insulating seal may be inserted into the inter-panel space simultaneously with the insulating seal, thereby simplifying the manufacture of the can.
According to one embodiment, the insulating body of the insulating strip has an outer face fixed to an inner face of the insulating seal.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip is discontinuously fixed to the inner face of the insulating seal. Thus, deformation of the inner face of the insulating seal does not cause deformation of the insulating strip.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip is fixed to the inner face of the insulating seal by adhesive bonding.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip has a through-hole extending in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier.
Such a through hole allows the suction mouth to pass through the insulating strip and the surround of the insulating seal, in particular when said insulating strip is fixed to the insulating seal. The retention of the mouth through the surround of the insulating strip and the insulating seal during the insertion of the insulating seal in the interpanel space makes it possible to maintain the vacuum in the internal space delimited by the surround and therefore the compression of the insulating seal to facilitate the insertion of the latter.
Furthermore, in the case of insulating strips fixed to the inner face of the insulating seal, said insulating seal is only barely accessible or completely inaccessible once inserted in the interplate space. Therefore, in the case where the insulating seal is accommodated in the inter-panel space and is in a compressed state due to the vacuum in the inner space thereof, it is difficult to pierce the surrounding member to release the vacuum. Holding the suction mouth in place during insertion of the insulating seal is such that: once the insulating seal is correctly positioned, the vacuum in the insulating seal can be released simply by removing the suction mouth, via the hole through which the mouth is inserted in the insulating seal.
According to one embodiment, the insulating seal is a first insulating seal, the compressible insulating core is a first compressible insulating core, the surround is a first surround, the tank further comprises a second insulating seal, the second insulating seal includes a second compressible insulating core and a second surrounding member covering the second insulating core, the second insulating seal being accommodated in the inter-panel space in a state where it is compressed in a width direction of the inter-panel space, the first insulating seal being adjacent to the second insulating seal, the inner face of the second insulating seal being at a distance from the sealing membrane in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier, and wherein the insulating strip is interposed between an inner face of the second insulating seal and the sealing film in a thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier, such that the insulating strip is arranged to straddle the interface between the first and second insulating seals in the inter-panel space. Due to these features, the interface between two adjacent insulating seals is interrupted by an insulating strip in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier. Thus, the inter-board spaces do not have any channels that can extend through the entire thickness of the thermal insulation barrier and that may cause convection in the thermal insulation barrier.
The above described techniques may be used in a tank wall comprising a single insulation barrier or may be used in a tank wall comprising several stacked insulation barriers. In particular, in this case, the technique may be used for producing the second level insulation barrier and/or the first level insulation barrier.
The present invention also provides, according to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulated tank, the method comprising:
a plurality of insulating sheet members are provided,
arranging two of the dielectric sheet members adjacent to each other such that the two dielectric sheet members define an inter-sheet space,
providing an insulating seal comprising a compressible insulating core and a surround covering the insulating core,
compressing the insulating seal such that the insulating seal has a width less than or equal to a width of the space between the plates,
inserting the insulating seal in the inter-panel space such that an inner face of the insulating seal is at a distance from inner faces of the two insulating panel members in a thickness direction of the insulating panel members,
providing an insulating strip having a flat inner face,
inserting an insulating strip in the inter-panel space, such that the insulating strip rests on the inner face of the insulating seal,
anchoring a sealing film layer on the inner faces of the two adjacent insulating sheets such that the sealing film layer straddles the inter-sheet space and faces the inner faces of the insulating strips.
Such a manufacturing method is easy to implement. In particular, in such a manufacturing method, anchoring the sealing film layer on the insulating sheet member is simple and not hindered by the inner face of the insulating seal.
According to embodiments, such a method for manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulated tank may comprise one or more of the following features.
According to one embodiment, the sealing film layer is anchored on the inner faces of the two adjacent insulating plate elements by adhesive bonding.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises: the insulating strip is secured to the insulating seal prior to inserting the insulating seal in the inter-board space. Due to these features, the insertion of the insulating seal and the insertion of the insulating strip can be performed simultaneously.
According to one embodiment, the insulating strip has an aperture, the method further comprising: a suction nozzle portion is inserted into the insulation seal through a hole in the insulation strip and a vacuum is created within an interior space of the insulation seal bounded by the surround so as to compress the insulation seal. Thus, as described above, it is possible to maintain the vacuum in the inner space of the insulating seal during the insertion of the insulating seal into the inter-board space, and then release the vacuum simply by removing the suction nozzle portion once the insulating seal is correctly positioned in the inter-board space.
Such tanks may form part of an onshore storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or be installed in a floating structure offshore or deep water, in particular on LNG carriers, Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRU), remote floating production and storage units (FPSO) or the like. Such tanks may also be used as fuel tanks in any type of transport vessel.
According to one embodiment, the invention provides a transport vessel for transporting a cold liquid product, comprising a double hull and a tank as described above arranged in the double hull.
According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a transport vessel, wherein the cold liquid product is transferred from a floating or onshore storage facility to the tanks of the transport vessel or from the tanks of the transport vessel to the floating or onshore storage facility through insulated pipelines.
The present invention also provides, according to one embodiment, a transfer system for transferring a cold liquid product, the system comprising: the above-mentioned transport ship; an insulated pipeline arranged to connect a tank installed in the hull of a transport vessel to a floating or onshore storage facility; and a pump for pumping a flow of cold liquid product from the floating or onshore storage facility to the tank of the carrier vessel, or from the tank of the carrier vessel to the floating or onshore storage facility, through the insulated pipeline.
Drawings
The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, which is made by way of non-limiting example only, read with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an insulation seal during its insertion in an inter-panel space defined by two insulation panels of a thermal insulation barrier of a sealed and thermally insulated tank;
FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section of a first embodiment of an insulating seal associated with an insulating strip;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the insulating seal and insulating strip of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a view in cross-section of a second embodiment of an insulating seal associated with an insulating strip;
FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section of a third embodiment of an insulating seal associated with an insulating strip;
FIG. 6 is a view of a longitudinal cross section of a plurality of adjacent insulating seals and insulating strips according to an alternative embodiment;
fig. 7 is a top view from above of the intersection between the inter-panel spaces defined by four adjacent insulating panel units, in which insulating seals and insulating strips are accommodated;
fig. 8 schematically depicts in a partly cut-away manner a tank of an LNG carrier and a quay for loading/unloading the tank.
Detailed Description
In general, the terms "outer" and "inner" are used to designate the relative position of an element with respect to another element with reference to the interior and exterior of a can. Thus, elements near or facing the interior of the tank are described as internal elements as opposed to elements near or facing the exterior of the tank, which are described as external elements.
A sealed, thermally insulated tank for storing and transporting a cryogenic fluid, such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), includes a plurality of tank walls, each tank wall having a multi-layered structure.
Such a sealed and thermally insulated tank wall has, from the outside to the inside of the tank: a second stage thermal insulation barrier resting against the support structure; a second stage sealing membrane resting against the second stage thermal insulation barrier; a first level thermal insulation barrier resting against the second level sealing film; and a first-stage sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.
The support structure may in particular be a self-supporting metal sheet or, more generally, any type of rigid separator having suitable mechanical properties. The support structure may in particular be formed by the hull or double hull of a transport vessel. The support structure includes a plurality of walls defining the general shape of the tank, typically a polyhedron shape.
Such sealed and thermally insulated tanks are manufactured, for example, by an assembly of prefabricated blocks juxtaposed in a regular pattern. Each precast block includes: a parallelepiped-shaped second-stage insulating plate member; a second-stage sealing film portion; and a parallelepiped-shaped first-stage insulating block. The second stage insulating block includes: a bottom panel, such as a bottom panel made of plywood; and an insulating lining, for example made of an insulating foam such as a fibre-reinforced polyurethane foam. The second-stage sealing film portion is formed of a rigid sealing film layer adhesively bonded to the second-stage insulation board member. The rigid sealing membrane layer is a layered material comprising a metal sheet, for example made of aluminium, sandwiched between two sheets of resinated fibres, for example glass fibres. The first stage insulation panel member is adhesively joined to the second stage sealing membrane portion and includes an insulation liner made of, for example, fiber-reinforced polyurethane foam and a covering panel made of, for example, plywood.
Such tanks are described, for example, in WO14057221, WO2019155158 or FR 2691520.
During installation of the precast block, the inter-panel spaces separate facing sides of two adjacent second-stage insulation panel members. In order to ensure continuity of insulation in the second stage thermal insulation barrier despite the presence of these inter-board spaces, an insulating seal 1 is inserted in the inter-board spaces.
Fig. 2 schematically shows an example of a method for inserting such an insulating seal 1 in an inter-panel space 2. In this figure, only two second level insulating sheet elements 3 forming said inter-sheet element space 2 are shown.
The insulating seal 1 comprises an insulating core 4 covered by a surround 5 (see figure 2). The insulating seal 1 has a parallelepiped shape corresponding to the parallelepiped shape of the inter-board space 2. The surround 5 surrounds the insulating core 4 such that said surround 5 delimits the inner space of the insulating seal 1.
The insulating core 4 is made of a compressible insulating material such as glass wool or insulating foam. Furthermore, the surround 5 is sufficiently sealed to allow the inner space of the insulating seal to be placed under vacuum. Due to the compressibility of the insulating core 4 and the sealing of the surround 5, the insulating seal 1 may be compressed by creating a vacuum in the inner space. The surround may be made of one or more materials such as paper, polymer film layers, composite sheets, and the like.
As shown in fig. 1, a vacuum pump 6 is connected to the insulating seal 1. The vacuum pump 6 is connected to the inner space of the insulating seal, for example by a hose having a suction mouth at the end opposite the vacuum pump 6. A suction mouth is inserted in insulation seal 1 through surround 5 and a vacuum is generated to create a vacuum in the interior space of insulation seal 1.
The insulating seal 1 has a width greater than the width 35 of the inter-panel space 2 in a free state, i.e., no vacuum exists in the inner space or the insulating seal 1 is not compressed by any other stress. The purpose of the vacuum in the inner space is to compress the insulating seal 1 so that its width is less than or equal to the width of the inter-panel space 2. For example, the inter-plate space 2 has a width of 30mm with a tolerance of 3 mm. The insulating seal 1 thus has a width of 35mm in the free state and a width of less than or equal to 27mm in the compressed state under the action of the vacuum. Therefore, the insulating seal 1 can be easily inserted into the inter-panel space in this compressed state.
With the insulating seal 1 inserted in the inter-board space 2, the vacuum in the inner space of the insulating seal 1 is released, so that the insulating seal 1 expands and fills the entire width of the inter-board space 2. The insulating seal 1 is then in a semi-compressed state in which said insulating seal 1 is compressed by the second stage insulating plate 3.
In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the interaction between the vacuum pump 6 and the insulating seal 1 is maintained during the insertion of the insulating seal 1 into the inter-panel space 2. Maintaining this interaction makes it possible to: the vacuum in the inner space of the insulating seal 1 is maintained during its insertion into the inter-panel space 2, and is released simply by removing the suction nozzle portion in the case where the insulating seal 1 is correctly positioned in the panel inner space 2.
Various embodiments of such an insulating seal and of a method for inserting the insulating seal 1 in the interpanel space 2 are described in WO 2019155158.
However, in the state in which the insulating seal 1 is semi-compressed between the second stage insulating plate members 3, the inner face 7 of the insulating seal 7 formed by the surround 5 has wrinkles due to the compression of the insulating seal 1. Due to these wrinkles, the inner face 7 of the insulating seal 1 does not have a uniform flat surface. Such corrugations may extend in a thickness of several millimetres, typically in the order of 1mm to 5 mm. Furthermore, such wrinkles are somewhat stiff.
However, in the case where the second-stage sealing film is formed from the prefabricated blocks as described above, the flexible sealing film layer 33 ensures continuity of the second-stage sealing film between the two prefabricated blocks. Such a flexible sealing film layer 33 is, for example
Figure BDA0002774020050000121
A film layer, i.e. a composite sealing film layer comprising a metal sheet, for example made of aluminium, interposed between two fibrous sheets, such as glass fibres, which are not resinified. The flexible sealing film layer 33 straddles the inter-panel space 2 and is adhesively joined to the second-stage sealing film portions made of the rigid sealing film layer 34, which rest on the second-stage insulation panels 3 on both sides of the inter-panel space 2. In other words, the flexible sealing film layer 33 straddles: an inter-board space 2, and an insulating seal 1 accommodated in the inter-board space 2.
Thus, if the insulating seal extends up to the inner surface of the second stage insulation panel 3, wrinkles on the inner face 7 of the insulating seal 1 may interfere with the positioning and fixing of the flexible sealing membrane 33 on the rigid sealing membrane 34 carried by the second stage insulation panel 3.
To prevent this, the insulating seal 1 has a thickness considered in the thickness direction of the second-stage thermal insulation barrier smaller than that of the second-stage insulation panel member 3. The difference in thickness between the second stage insulating sheet member 3 and the insulating seal 1 is such that: when the insulating seal 1 is accommodated in the inter-panel space 2, the wrinkles formed on the inner surface 7 of the insulating seal 1 are spaced a distance from the flexible sealing film layer 33 that ensures the continuity of the second-stage sealing film.
However, the difference in thickness between the insulating seal member 1 and the second stage insulating sheet member 3 may create an empty space between the insulating seal member 1 and the flexible sealing film layer 33 forming the second stage sealing film. If the empty space is not very thick, for example less than 3mm thick, the empty space does not significantly impede or at all impede the insulating properties of the second stage thermal insulation barrier. However, if the empty space is too large, e.g. more than 3mm, the insulating properties of the second level thermal insulation barrier may be compromised. In particular, an excessively large space may promote convection in the inter-board space 2.
Therefore, in order to prevent damage to the insulating properties of the second stage thermal insulation barrier, the insulating strip 8 is accommodated in the inter-board space 2 between the flexible sealing film layer 33 and the insulating seal 1.
Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of an insulating seal associated with such an insulating strip 8 as described above or in WO 2019155158.
The insulating strip 8 comprises an insulating body 9 covered by a covering sheet 10.
The insulating body 9 of the insulating strip can be made of various materials. The insulating body 9 is made of glass wool, rock wool, for example, or alternatively of a low-density insulating foam such as polyurethane foam. The density of the insulating body 9 is lower than the density of the insulating core 4 of the insulating seal 1. For example, the insulating body 9 has a density of 11kg/m3To 35kg/m3In the meantime.
In case the insulation body 9 is made of a low density foam (not shown), said low density foam is preferably non-fibrous so as to have a substantially smooth inner surface. It is thus possible to omit the covering sheet 10 in the insulating strip 8, the insulating strip 8 only comprising an insulating body 9 made of non-fibrous low-density foam. Thus, the absence of fibers in the low density insulating foam avoids damaging the flexible sealing membrane layer 33 when adhesively bonding the flexible sealing membrane layer 33 to the rigid sealing membrane layer 34 carried by the secondary insulation panel 3.
The cover sheet 10 may also be made of a variety of materials. The cover sheet is smooth so that the insulating strip 8 has a flat inner surface 11. The covering sheet 10 is made of, for example, kraft paper. In the case of insulating bodies 9 made of glass wool, such covering sheets 10 made of kraft paper make it possible to preserve the integrity of the glass wool and prevent it from breaking and contamination in the ambient space during the installation of the insulating strip 8.
The insulating strip 8 has a width 12 in the free state which is smaller than a width 13 of the insulating seal 1 in the free state. Preferably, the insulating strip 8 has a width less than or equal to the width 35 of the inter-board space 2. The insulating strip 8 thus has a width of, for example, less than or equal to 30mm, for example equal to 27 mm. Therefore, the insulating strip 8 can be inserted in the inter-board space 2 without being compressed or slightly compressed in the width direction of the inter-board space 2. More particularly, the insulating strip 8, when it is housed in the inter-panel space 2, is in an uncompressed or only slightly compressed state, so that its inner face 11 is not creased and has a flat inner surface 11 which does not interfere with the adhesive bonding of the flexible sealing film 33 to the rigid sealing film 34 carried by the insulating panels delimiting the inter-panel space.
Such an insulating strip 8 and preferably more particularly an insulating body 9 is compressible in the thickness direction of the second level thermal insulation barrier. Such an insulating strip 8 has a thickness of the order of magnitude of, for example, 10mm to 15 mm.
In this first embodiment, an insulating strip 8 is fixed to the inner face 7 of insulating seal 1. This may be achieved in any suitable manner, for example by discrete or continuous adhesive bonding along the bond line. Accordingly, the insulating strip 8 is firmly fixed to the insulating seal 1 so that the insulating seal 1 and the insulating strip 8 can be inserted together into the inter-panel space 2 in a common insertion step.
The discrete points of adhesive 13 joining insulating strip 8 to inner face 7 of insulating seal 1 prevent wrinkles formed on inner face 7 of insulating seal 1 from deforming insulating strip 8, in particular inner face 11 of said insulating strip 8.
As shown in fig. 3, the insulating strip 8 has a through-opening 14 for access to the surround 5 of the insulating seal 1. In particular, this hole 14 allows a suction mouth to pass through the insulating strip 8, in order to place the internal space of the insulating seal 1 under vacuum for its insertion, and to keep said suction mouth in position during the joint insertion of the insulating seal 1 and the insulating strip 8 into the interpanel space 2.
Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment, in which the insulating seal 1 has a plurality of insulating layers 15, three in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, stacked in the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier. The individual insulating layers 15 are separated by a separator sheet 16, two in the example shown in fig. 4. These insulating layers 15 are made of glass wool and have a layering direction parallel to the width direction of the inter-board space 2. Therefore, it is easier to compress the insulating seal 1 in the width direction of the inter-panel space 2, and therefore the insulating seal can be compressed and inserted in the inter-panel space 2 more easily.
In this second embodiment, the insulating body 9 of the insulating strip 8 is also made of glass wool. However, the layering direction of the glass wool of the insulating body 9 is parallel to the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier. Thus, the insulating strip 8, and more particularly the insulating body 9, is easily compressed in the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier, so that the insulating strip 8 can be easily compressed in the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier while still having a flat inner surface 11 that does not interfere with the adhesive bonding of the flexible sealing film layer 33.
Accordingly, the insulating seal 1 and the insulating strip 8 may have a thickness, considered in the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier, equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the inter-board space 2, so that the assembly formed by the insulating seal 1 and the insulating strip 8 is slightly compressed by the flexible sealing film layer 33 straddling the inter-board space 2. However, due to the layering direction of the glass wool of the insulating strip 8, it is easy to compress the insulating strip 8 in the thickness direction of the secondary thermal insulation barrier while still having a flat inner face 11, so that said insulating strip 8 does not hinder mounting, more particularly, the adhesive bonding of the flexible sealing film layer 33 to the rigid sealing film layer 34 carried by the secondary insulation board element 3. Furthermore, due to the slight compression of insulating strip 8 in the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier between inner face 7 of insulating seal 1 and flexible sealing membrane layer 33, said insulating strip 8 optimally fills the space between seal 1 and flexible sealing membrane layer 33, including the space between the corrugations formed on inner face 7 of insulating seal 1.
In this second embodiment, the insulating body 9 and the covering sheet 10 of the insulating strip 8 have the same width. Further, the insulating strip 8 has a width considered in the width direction of the inter-board space 2 smaller than the width of the inter-board space 2. Therefore, the insulating strip 8 can be inserted into the inter-board space 2 without being compressed in the width direction of the inter-board space 2.
Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of the insulating seal 1 and the insulating strip 8.
In this third embodiment, the insulating seal 1 has two sections stacked in the width direction of the inter-panel space 2. The first section 17 comprises an insulating lining 18 extending over the entire thickness of the insulating seal 1. The second section 19 is similar to the insulating core 4 described above with reference to fig. 4 and comprises insulating layers 15 separated by separation sheets 16. Furthermore, the first section 17 and the second section 19 are separated by an additional separation sheet 20 extending in a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the inter-panel space 2. The separator sheet extends over only a part of the thickness of the insulating seal 1, preferably over a central portion.
Preferably, the insulating lining 18 of the first section 17 and the insulating layer 15 of the second section 19 have different densities. According to one embodiment, the insulating lining 18 of the first section 17 is formed with a density of35kg/m3And the insulating layer 15 of the second section 19 is made of glass wool having a density of 22kg/m3Is made of the glass wool. These density differences between the first section 17 and the second section 19 allow good compression of the insulating seal 1 in the width direction of the inter-panel space 2 while maintaining good thermal insulation properties.
In this third embodiment, the covering sheet 10 of the insulating strip 8 has a width smaller than the width of the insulating body 9 of the insulating strip 8. More specifically, the covering sheet 10 has a width, as viewed in the width direction of the inter-panel space 2, smaller than the width 35 of the inter-panel space 2. Thus, the insulating strip 8 is inserted in the inter-panel space without deforming the covering sheet 10, and the insulating strip 8 thus still has a flat inner face 11.
In this third embodiment, the width of the insulating body 9 itself of the insulating strip 8 in the width direction of the inter-board space 2 is smaller than the width of the insulating seal 1, but is preferably slightly wider than the width 35 of the inter-board space 2. Therefore, the insulation body 9 may be slightly compressed in the width direction of the inter-board space 2 during its insertion in the inter-board space 2, and kept compressed by the second-stage insulation boards 3 that define the inter-board space 2. The insulating body 9 thus completely fills the width 35 of the inter-board space 2 and ensures good insulation continuity within the second level thermal insulation barrier.
Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a plurality of insulating seals 1 juxtaposed in one or more aligned inter-panel spaces 2. These insulating seals 1 may be produced according to various embodiments, such as those described above with reference to fig. 1 to 5 or in WO 2019155158.
In this alternative embodiment, after the insulating seal 1 is installed in the one or more inter-panel spaces 2, the insulating strip 8 is not fixed to the insulating seal 1 but inserted in the one or more inter-panel spaces 2.
Accordingly, the insulating strip 8 may have a length independent of the length of the insulating seal 1. The insulating strip 8 may thus take the form of a roll that is unrolled in a row of aligned inter-panel spaces 2 so as to cover a plurality of successive insulating seals 1 accommodated in said row of inter-panel spaces 2. Such an insulating strip 8 therefore does not require holes 14 for the passage of the suction mouth, since such an insulating strip 8 is accommodated in one or more inter-panel spaces 2 after the insulating seal 1 has been inserted into said one or more inter-panel spaces 2.
This alternative embodiment also makes it possible to cover the interface 21 between two adjacent insulating seals 1.
Specifically, as shown in fig. 6, when two insulating seals 1 are juxtaposed in the row of inter-panel spaces 2, adjacent edges 22 of the insulating seals 1 face each other. During mounting of the insulating seals 1, the insulating seals 1 preferably abut in order to limit the space between said insulating seals 1. However, during use of the tank, a change in temperature in the tank, for example when the tank is cooled, may result in a change in the space separating two adjacent insulating seals 1. Such a variation in the space between two adjacent insulating seals 1 may cause a channel to occur that extends in the thickness direction of the second-stage thermal insulation barrier.
Since such channels promote convection within the second stage thermal insulation barrier, it is preferred to limit their presence or at least their thickness such that they do not extend over the entire thickness of the second stage thermal insulation barrier.
Thus, in this alternative embodiment, the insulating strip 8 is arranged in one or more inter-panel spaces 2 so as to straddle the interface 21 between two adjacent insulating seals 1. Thus, the interface 21 between two adjacent insulating seals 1 is interrupted by the insulating strip 8 in the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier.
Likewise, the interface 23 between two adjacent insulating strips 8 is arranged in line with the insulating seal 1 such that said interface 23 between two adjacent insulating strips 8 is offset with respect to the interface 21 between two adjacent insulating seals 1. Thus, the interface 23 between two adjacent insulating strips 8 is interrupted by the insulating seal 1 in the thickness direction of the second stage thermal insulation barrier. This arrangement of insulating seal 1 and insulating strip 8 prevents the formation of channels throughout the thickness of the second stage thermal insulation barrier, thereby limiting convection of the second stage thermal insulation barrier at interfaces 21 and 23.
This arrangement is particularly advantageous at the intersections between the rows of inter-panel spaces 2.
As shown in fig. 7, since the second-stage insulation panel members 3 are arranged in a regular grid, the tank has a first parallel plurality of rows of inter-panel spaces 2 extending in a first direction 24 and a second parallel plurality of rows of inter-panel spaces 2 extending in a second direction 25 perpendicular to the first direction 24. Thus, the first and second rows 26, 27 of inter-panel spaces 2, 2 form intersections 28 at the corners of four adjacent second stage insulation panels 3.
In order to ensure the continuity of the thermal insulation barrier at this intersection 28, a first insulating seal 29 is housed in two successive inter-plate spaces 2 of the first row 26 of inter-plate spaces 2 forming said intersection 28. In other words, the first insulating seal 29 is collectively accommodated in the inter-board spaces 2 of the first row 26 of inter-board spaces 2 and passes through the intersection 28.
The second insulating seal 30 is accommodated in the inter-board spaces 2 of the second row 27 of inter-board spaces 2 and is interrupted at the intersections 28. However, to prevent the formation of a channel that promotes convection, the second insulating seal 30 is compressed in the second direction 25 so as to bear on the first insulating seal 29 passing through the intersection 28.
Thus, at the intersection 28, these second insulating seals 30 have corrugations associated with their compression in the width direction as explained above, but also with their compression in the length direction. Thus, the inner face of the second insulating seal 30 has many wrinkles in variable directions.
The adhesive bonding of the flexible sealing film layer 33 is particularly troublesome due to the presence of wrinkles on both the first insulating seal 29 and the two second insulating seals 30. Furthermore, the thermal insulation barrier has several interfaces, which may promote convection between the first insulation seal 29 and said second insulation seal 30 at the intersection 28.
In order to prevent or at least limit such convection at the intersection 28 while promoting the adhesive bonding of the flexible sealing film layer 33, an insulating strip 8 is used which is continuous and thus pre-fixed to the insulating seal 1, in an opposite arrangement with respect to the arrangement of the insulating seals 29 and 30 at the intersection 28. Thus, a first insulating strip 31, schematically shown in dashed lines in fig. 7, is arranged in the second row 27 of inter-board spaces 2 so as to pass through the intersection 28, and two second insulating strips 32, schematically shown in dashed lines in fig. 7, are arranged in the first row 26 of inter-board spaces 2 and interrupted by the first insulating strip 31.
This opposite arrangement makes it possible to cover the interface between the second insulating seal 30 and the first insulating seal 29 by the first insulating strip 31, so as to limit the thickness of any channels that may form along the thickness of the thermal insulating barrier at these interfaces. Likewise, the interface between the first insulating strip 31 and the second insulating strip 32 is arranged in correspondence with the first insulating seal 29. Thus, convection in the inter-board space 2 is restricted at the intersection 28.
The above described techniques for producing sealed and thermally insulated tanks may be used for different types of tanks, e.g. for constituting a secondary thermal insulation barrier and a secondary sealing membrane of an LNG storage tank in an onshore facility or above a floating structure such as an LNG carrier or the like.
Referring to fig. 8, a partially cut away view of an LNG carrier 70 shows a generally prismatic shaped sealed and thermally insulated tank 71 mounted in the double hull 72 of the carrier. The walls of the tank 71 include: a first stage of sealing barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank; a secondary sealing barrier disposed between the primary sealing barrier and the double hull 72 of the carrier; and two insulating barriers between the first and second sealing barriers and between the second sealing barrier and the double hull 72, respectively.
In a manner known per se, a loading/unloading line 73 arranged above the upper deck of the transport vessel may be connected to the offshore or harbour terminal by means of suitable connectors for transferring LNG cargo from or to the tank 71.
Fig. 8 shows an example of an offshore terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, a subsea pipeline 76 and an onshore facility 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 supporting the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible tubes 79 that can be connected to the loading/unloading line 73. The orientable moveable arm 74 can be adjusted to suit all sizes of LNG carriers. A connecting duct (not shown) extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows loading of the LNG carrier 70 from the onshore facility 77 and unloading from the LNG carrier to the onshore facility. The facility includes: a tank 80 for storing liquefied gas; and a connecting pipe 81 connected to the loading or unloading station 75 through the underwater pipe 76. The underwater pipeline 76 allows for the transfer of liquefied gas over long distances, e.g. 5km, between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore facility 77, which enables the LNG carrier 70 to be maintained at a long distance from shore during loading and unloading operations.
In order to generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on the transport vessel 70 and/or pumps fitted to an onshore facility 77 and/or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 75 are used.
Although the invention has been described in connection with several specific embodiments, it is evident that the invention is by no means limited to these embodiments and that the invention comprises all technical equivalents of the means described and combinations thereof, if these fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
Use of the verb "comprise" or "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.
In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims (17)

1. A sealed and thermally insulated tank comprising a thermal insulation barrier and a sealing membrane arranged on the thermal insulation barrier, the thermal insulation barrier comprising a plurality of juxtaposed insulation panel members (3), an inter-panel space (2) being defined between two adjacent insulation panel members (3), the sealing membrane comprising a sealing membrane layer (33) anchored on the insulation panel members (3) and straddling the inter-panel space (2),
the canister further comprises:
an insulating seal (1) comprising a compressible insulating core (4) and a surround (5) covering the insulating core (4), the insulating seal (1) being received in the inter-board space (2) in a state in which it is compressed in a width direction of the inter-board space (2), an inner face (7) of the insulating seal (1) being at a distance from the sealing film layer (33) in a thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier,
an insulating strip (8) housed in the inter-panel space (2) and interposed between an inner face (7) of the insulating seal (1) and the sealing film layer (33) in a thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier, the insulating strip (8) having a flat inner face (11).
2. A sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 1, wherein the insulating strip (8) is flexible.
3. A sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulating strip (8) comprises a layer of glass wool.
4. A sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulating strip (8) comprises a flexible polymer foam layer.
5. Sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insulating strip (8) has a width, considered in the width direction of the inter-panel space (2), which is smaller than or equal to the width of the inter-panel space (2).
6. Sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insulating strip (8) comprises an insulating body (9) and a smooth inner covering sheet (10), the inner covering sheet (10) forming a flat inner face of the insulating strip (8).
7. Sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 6, wherein the inner covering sheet (10) has a width, considered in the width direction of the inter-panel space (2), which is smaller than the width of the inter-panel space (2).
8. Sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the insulating strip (8) is fixed to the inner face (7) of the insulating seal (1).
9. Sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the insulating strip (8) has a through-hole (14) extending in the thickness direction of the thermal insulation barrier.
10. Sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the core (4) of the insulating seal (1) comprises a layer of glass wool with a layering direction parallel to the width direction of the inter-panel space (2), and the insulating strip (8) comprises a layer of glass wool with a layering direction parallel to the thickness direction of the thermal insulating barrier.
11. Sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the insulating seal is a first insulating seal, the compressible insulating core is a first compressible insulating core, the surround is a first surround, the tank further comprising a second insulating seal, the second insulating seal comprising a second compressible insulating core and a second surround covering the second insulating core, the second insulating seal being accommodated in the inter-board space (2) in a state in which it is compressed in the width direction thereof, the first insulating seal being adjacent to the second insulating seal, the inner face of the second insulating seal being at a distance from the sealing membrane in the thickness direction of the thermal insulating barrier, and wherein the insulating strips (8) are interposed between the inner face of the second insulating seal and the sealing membrane in the thickness direction of the thermal insulating barrier, such that the insulating strip (8) is arranged to straddle an interface (21) between the first and second insulating seals in the inter-panel space (2).
12. A method for manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulated tank, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of insulating plate elements (3),
arranging two of the insulation panel pieces (3) adjacent to each other such that the two insulation panel pieces (3) define an inter-panel space (2),
providing an insulating seal (1) comprising a compressible insulating core (4) and a surround (5) covering the insulating core (4),
compressing the insulating seal (1) such that the insulating seal (1) has a width that is less than or equal to the width of the inter-panel space (2),
inserting the insulating seal (1) in the inter-panel space (2) such that an inner face (7) of the insulating seal (1) is at a distance from inner faces of the two insulating panels (3) in the thickness direction of the insulating panels (3),
providing an insulating strip (8) having a flat inner face (11),
inserting the insulating strip (8) in the inter-panel space (2) such that the insulating strip (8) rests on an inner face (7) of the insulating seal (1),
anchoring a sealing film layer (33) on the inner faces of the two adjacent insulating panels (3) such that the sealing film layer (33) straddles the inter-panel space (2) and faces the inner face (11) of the insulating strip (8).
13. The method for manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulated tank of claim 12, further comprising: -fixing the insulating strip (8) to the insulating seal (1) before inserting the insulating seal (1) into the inter-panel space (2).
14. Method for manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 12, wherein the insulating strip (8) has holes (14), the method further comprising: -inserting a suction mouth into the insulating seal (1) through the hole (14) in the insulating strip (8), and-creating a vacuum within the inner space of the insulating seal (1) delimited by the surround (5) in order to compress the insulating seal (1).
15. A carrier vessel (70) for transporting cold liquid products, comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 arranged therein.
16. A transfer system for transferring a cold liquid product, the system comprising: a carrier vessel (70) according to claim 15; an insulated line (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull of the transport vessel to a floating or onshore storage facility (77); and a pump for pumping a stream of the cold liquid product from the floating or on-shore storage facility to the tank of the transport vessel or from the tank of the transport vessel to the floating or on-shore storage facility through the insulated pipeline.
17. Method for loading or unloading a carrier vessel (70) according to claim 15, wherein cold liquid product is transferred from a floating or onshore storage facility (77) to the tank (71) of the carrier vessel or from the tank of the carrier vessel to the floating or onshore storage facility by means of insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81).
CN202011259009.6A 2019-11-13 2020-11-12 Sealed and thermally insulated tank Pending CN112797311A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1912650A FR3103024B1 (en) 2019-11-13 2019-11-13 Sealed and thermally insulating tank
FRFR1912650 2019-11-13

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Publication Number Publication Date
CN112797311A true CN112797311A (en) 2021-05-14

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US4747513A (en) * 1986-06-03 1988-05-31 Societe Nouvelle Technigaz Heat insulating wall structure for a fluid-tight tank
JPH04194498A (en) * 1990-11-28 1992-07-14 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Clearance filling expansion heat insulating material and mounting method thereof
US5586513A (en) * 1994-09-20 1996-12-24 Gaztransport & Technigaz Watertight and thermally insulating tank built into a bearing structure
KR20140044584A (en) * 2012-10-05 2014-04-15 현대중공업 주식회사 Heat insulated structure in lng carrier
CN107110428A (en) * 2014-09-26 2017-08-29 气体运输技术公司 Sealing comprising the bridging element between the panelling of secondary isolation barrier completely cuts off tank
WO2019155158A1 (en) * 2018-02-09 2019-08-15 Gaztransport Et Technigaz Process for manufacturing a sealed, thermally insulating tank wall comprising insulating inserts between panels

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FR3103024B1 (en) 2021-11-05
FR3103024A1 (en) 2021-05-14

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