阅读说明：本技术 用于在罐壁安装期间保持波纹加强件的装置 (Device for holding corrugated reinforcement during installation of tank wall ) 是由 G.托斯 P.马丁 M.博尤 于 2020-03-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于安装用于液体货物运输船舶(1)的罐(2)的壁(6)的方法,所述壁(6)尤其包括绝缘基体(8)、包括波纹(110,120)系列的至少一个波纹板(100),所述壁(6)包括至少一个波纹加强件(21,22),所述波纹加强件被构造成容纳在波纹板(100)的至少一个波纹(110,120)中,在该方法中,至少一个保持装置(50)被插入波纹加强件(20)中,使得可以将波纹加强件(20)设置在绝缘基体(8)上。(The invention relates to a method for installing a wall (6) of a tank (2) for a liquid cargo transport vessel (1), said wall (6) comprising in particular an insulating matrix (8), at least one corrugated plate (100) comprising a series of corrugations (110,120), said wall (6) comprising at least one corrugation stiffener (21,22) configured to be accommodated in at least one corrugation (110,120) of the corrugated plate (100), in which method at least one holding device (50) is inserted into the corrugation stiffener (20) such that the corrugation stiffener (20) can be arranged on the insulating matrix (8).)

1. Installation method for installing a tank (2) wall (6) for a liquid cargo transport vessel (1), the tank (2) wall (6) comprising at least one thermal insulation (8), at least one corrugated plate (100) comprising a series of corrugations (110,120), the wall (6) comprising at least one corrugated stiffener (21,22) configured to be received in at least one corrugation (110,120) of the corrugated plate (100), during which method in a first step at least one holding device (50) penetrates into the corrugated stiffener (21,22), and in a second step the corrugated stiffener (21,22) equipped with the holding device (50) is positioned against the thermal insulation (8).

2. Installation method according to claim 1, wherein the wall (6) of the tank (2) comprises at least one support (36) fixed to the insulator (8), the second step comprising at least the insertion of a free end (501,502) of the retaining means (50) in the support (36).

3. The mounting method according to claim 2, wherein the support (36) is at least one corrugated stiffener (21,22) fixed to the insulator (8) before the second step is carried out.

4. The mounting method (1) according to claim 2, wherein the support (36) is at least one clamping plate attached to the insulator (8).

5. Installation method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in a third step the corrugated sheet (100) is installed against the insulation (8), the corrugated reinforcement (21,22) being interposed between the corrugated sheet (100) and the insulation (8).

6. Installation method according to claim 5, wherein after the third step the corrugated plate (100) is fixed to the insulator (8).

7. Installation method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in a fourth step, the retaining means (50) are removed from the corrugated stiffener (21, 22).

8. Installation method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining means (50) support the corrugated reinforcement (21,22) during the first step and during the second step.

9. Installation method according to claim 8, wherein, before the first step, the frame (230b) of corrugated stiffeners (21,22) is assembled by connecting the first corrugated stiffener (21) and the second corrugated stiffener (22) with at least one connecting member (7) to form a first series (210) of corrugated stiffeners (21) and a second series (220) of corrugated stiffeners (22).

10. Installation method according to claim 9, wherein the retaining means (50) extend inside the corrugated reinforcing element (21,22), the retaining means (50) being interposed between the connecting member (7) and the vertex (28) of the corrugated reinforcing element (21,22) into which the retaining means (50) penetrate.

11. Installation method for installing a tank (2) wall (6) for a liquid cargo transport vessel (1), the tank (2) wall (6) comprising at least one thermal insulation (8), at least one corrugated plate (100) comprising a series of corrugations (110,120), the wall (6) comprising at least one corrugated reinforcement (21,22) configured to be accommodated in at least one corrugation (110,120) of the corrugated plate (100), during which method in a first step at least one holding device (50) penetrates into the corrugated reinforcement (21,22), and in a second step the corrugated reinforcement (21,22) equipped with the holding device (5) is positioned against the corrugated plate (100).

12. A tank (2) wall (6) for a liquid cargo transport vessel (1), the wall (6) of the tank (2) comprising at least one thermal insulation (8), at least one corrugated plate (100) comprising a series of corrugations (110,120), the wall (6) comprising at least one corrugated reinforcement (21,22) configured to be received in at least one corrugation (110,120) of the corrugated plate (100), characterized in that at least one retaining means (50) extends in the corrugated reinforcement (21,22), the length of the retaining means (50) being larger than the direction of the corrugated plate (100), the retaining means being positioned below the corrugated plate.

13. The tank (2) wall (6) according to claim 12, wherein the retaining means (50) has a length greater than the corrugated reinforcement (21,22) into which the retaining means (50) penetrates.

14. The tank (2) wall (6) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the retaining means (50) comprises at least one free end (501,502) extending beyond the edge (160) of the corrugated plate (100).

15. Tank wall according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein at least one of the corrugated reinforcing elements (21,22) comprises a housing (33) receiving a connecting member (7) and a channel (35) receiving the retaining means (50), the housing (33) and the channel (35) being common to each other.

16. The tank (2) wall (6) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein at least one of the corrugated reinforcements (21,22) comprises a receptacle (33) receiving a connecting member (7) and a channel (35) receiving the retaining means (50), the receptacle (33) and the channel (35) being separated by at least one inner wall (27a, 27b) of the corrugated reinforcement (21, 22).

17. Tank (2) of a vessel (1) for transporting liquid cargo, comprising at least one tank (2) wall (6) installed according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or at least one tank (2) wall (6) according to any one of claims 12 to 16.

18. A system for loading or unloading lng, the system incorporating at least one onshore facility and at least one lng carrier (1) comprising at least one tank (2) according to claim 17.

19. Method of loading or unloading lng to or from a tank (2) according to claim 17 or loading or unloading lng to or from an lng carrier (1) according to claim 18.

Technical Field

The field of the invention is transport tanks with insulating membranes for storing and/or transporting fluids, in particular sealed and insulated tanks for liquefied natural gas.

Background

The present invention relates to the field of sealed and insulated tanks for storing and/or transporting liquids at cryogenic temperatures, such as tanks for transporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) having a temperature of for example 50 ℃ to 0 ℃, or tanks for transporting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at about-162 ℃ and atmospheric pressure. These tanks may be installed onshore or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be used to transport or receive liquid gas for use as fuel to propel the floating structure.

Sealed and insulated tanks used for storing these liquids at cryogenic temperatures typically include insulation and a corrugated membrane comprising a plurality of corrugated sheets in contact with the liquid cargo. Between the insulator and the corrugated membrane, the corrugated reinforcing member may be located in the corrugations of the corrugated membrane. The corrugated reinforcing member serves to mechanically support the corrugations of the corrugated membrane in the presence of mechanical stress applied to the can. The corrugated stiffener is then assembled by connecting members to form a stiffener frame. A stiffener frame is then associated with each corrugated plate of the corrugated membrane.

One disadvantage of such a tank wall is its installation. In fact, the elements of the reinforcement frame, i.e. the corrugated reinforcement and the connecting member, are free or weakly fixed with respect to each other, which complicates the transfer of the reinforcement frame onto the insulator.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome this drawback by devising a device for retaining the corrugated reinforcing elements during their positioning on the insulation, which also makes it possible to promote the alignment of the corrugated reinforcing elements with respect to each other on the insulation.

The subject of the invention is therefore a method for installing a tank wall for a liquid cargo transport vessel, which tank wall comprises at least one thermal insulation, at least one corrugated plate comprising a series of corrugations, which wall comprises at least one corrugated reinforcement, which at least one corrugated reinforcement is configured to be accommodated in at least one corrugation of the corrugated plate, during which method in a first step at least one holding means is penetrated into the corrugated reinforcement and in a second step the corrugated reinforcement provided with the holding means is positioned against the thermal insulation.

The vessel may, inter alia, transport liquefied natural gas, which may then comprise several tanks for storing and/or transporting the natural gas.

The insulation of the tank wall ensures the insulation of the tank required for the transport of the liquefied natural gas and may in particular comprise at least one insulation layer. The corrugated plate comprises corrugations distributed over its surface. This corrugated sheet construction gives it greater resistance to the stresses generated on the tank, in particular thermal shrinkage on cooling of the tank, hydrostatic pressure caused by liquid cargo loading and dynamic pressure caused by cargo movements, in particular due to expansion. The corrugation on the corrugated sheet allows it to deform to relieve these stresses.

The corrugated stiffener has a form complementary to the corrugations of the corrugated sheet. Thus, a corrugation reinforcement can be arranged in the corrugations of the corrugated sheet in order to reinforce the latter, in particular in case of mechanical impact.

The holding means makes it possible to hold the corrugated reinforcing member during its positioning on the insulator. Furthermore, the retaining means facilitate the counter-rotation of the corrugated reinforcing members on the insulator.

The object of the invention is to thread the holding means into at least one reinforcement and then position everything against the insulation. One advantageous application of the invention is to thread the retaining means into a plurality of corrugated reinforcing elements and then position the plurality of corrugated reinforcing elements and their retaining means against the insulation. The features listed below with respect to a single corrugated stiffener apply analogously to a plurality of corrugated stiffeners.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, the tank wall comprises at least one support fixed to the insulator, the second step comprising at least the insertion of the free end of the retaining device in the support. Notably, the support member may be secured to the insulator by press-fitting, screwing or welding. The free end of the retaining means is the end exposed from the corrugated reinforcing element into which the retaining means penetrates.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, before carrying out the second step, the support is at least one corrugated reinforcement fixed to the insulation. The corrugated reinforcing member previously mounted on the insulator is blocked between the insulator and the plate on the metal strip which has been welded to the insulator. In other words, the corrugated reinforcing member previously mounted on the insulator is caught between the plate and the insulator.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, the support is at least one clamping plate attached to the insulator. The clamping plate may be secured to the insulator prior to installation of any corrugated reinforcement thereon. In another example of the invention, the clamping plate may be fixed to the insulator during positioning of the corrugated reinforcement on the insulator, supporting one of the free ends of the retaining means penetrating into the corrugated reinforcement. This mounting of the splint is then completed between the second and third steps, as described below.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, in a third step, a corrugated sheet is installed against an insulator, with a corrugated reinforcement interposed between the corrugated sheet and the insulator. The mounting of the corrugated plate on the insulation has the effect of pressing the corrugated reinforcement against the insulation, which same corrugated reinforcement still comprises the holding means at this stage.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, after the third step, the corrugated sheet is fixed to the insulation. As a non-limiting example, the fastening of the corrugated plate to the insulator can be realized in particular by welding, riveting or screwing.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, in a fourth step, the retaining means are removed from the corrugated reinforcement. Advantageously, the retaining means are removed from the corrugated stiffener by gripping one of its free ends extending beyond the corrugated stiffener and pulling it in a direction opposite to the direction for threading it into the stiffener in the first step. It will thus be appreciated that the retaining means is a temporary retaining means.

Advantageously, after the fourth step, the method according to the invention is applied again by threading the retaining means into corrugated reinforcing elements that are not fixed to the insulation and that are different from the target in the fourth step.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, the holding device supports the corrugated reinforcement during the first step and the second step. "supporting the corrugated reinforcement" is understood to mean the fact that the corrugated reinforcement, through which the retaining means prevent it from penetrating, is subjected to gravitational stresses when the retaining means are positioned against the insulator. Thus, according to a third step, it is the holding means that hold the one or more corrugated reinforcing elements before the corrugated plate is placed against the insulation.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, before the first step, a corrugated stiffener frame is assembled by connecting a first corrugated stiffener and a second corrugated stiffener with at least one connecting member, thereby forming a first series of corrugated stiffeners and a second series of corrugated stiffeners. The connecting member may for example take the form of a cross and make it possible to connect a first adjacent corrugated stiffener of a first series of stiffeners with a second adjacent corrugated stiffener of a second series of stiffeners.

According to the method for installing a tank wall, the retaining means extend inside the corrugated reinforcement, the retaining means being interposed between the connecting member and the apex of the corrugated reinforcement into which the retaining means penetrate. The apex of the corrugated reinforcing member is defined as the highest point of contact of the corrugated reinforcing member with the crests of the corrugations of the corrugated plate, and is opposite to the region of the corrugated reinforcing member in contact with the insulator in a direction at right angles to the insulator.

According to a feature of the invention, the length of the first series of corrugated reinforcing elements is less than the length of the second series of corrugated reinforcing elements, the retaining means advantageously penetrating into the first series of corrugated reinforcing elements.

The invention also covers an alternative installation method, which relates to a method for installing a tank wall for a liquid cargo transport vessel, which tank wall comprises at least one thermal insulation, at least one corrugated plate comprising a series of corrugations, which wall comprises at least one corrugated reinforcement, which at least one corrugated reinforcement is configured to be received in at least one corrugation of the corrugated plate, during which method in a first step at least one holding means is screwed into the corrugated reinforcement, and in a second step the corrugated reinforcement, which is equipped with the holding means, is positioned against the corrugated plate.

According to a feature of this alternative mounting method, in a third step, a corrugated plate equipped with a corrugated reinforcement and a retaining device is mounted against the insulator.

According to a feature of this alternative mounting method, after the third step, the corrugated plate is fixed to the insulator.

According to a feature of this alternative installation method, in a fourth step, the retaining means are removed from the corrugated stiffener.

The invention also covers a tank wall for a liquid cargo transport vessel, the tank wall comprising at least one thermal insulation, at least one corrugated plate comprising a series of corrugations, the wall comprising at least one corrugated reinforcement configured to be received in at least one corrugation of the corrugated plate, characterized in that at least one retaining means extends in the corrugated reinforcement.

According to a feature of the invention, the length of the retaining means is greater than the length of the corrugated reinforcing element into which the retaining means penetrates.

The greater length of the retaining means relative to the corrugated reinforcing member in which it extends allows it to extend beyond each side of the corrugated reinforcing member. This configuration then allows the operator to grasp the assembly with the ends extending beyond the corrugated reinforcing member and to thread these ends into the corrugated reinforcing member or, more generally, into the support member previously fixed to the insulator.

According to a feature of the invention, the retaining means has a length greater than the direction of the corrugated plate under which the retaining means is positioned.

According to a feature of the invention, the retaining means comprises at least one free end portion extending beyond an edge of the corrugated sheet. As will be understood from the above, after the third step of the method for installing a tank wall, at least one free end of the retaining means extends beyond the edge of the corrugated sheet. This configuration makes it possible to facilitate the removal of the retaining device from the corrugated stiffener, once the assembly formed by the corrugated plates and the corrugated stiffener is fixed to the insulator, after the third step.

According to a feature of the invention, one of the corrugated reinforcing elements comprises a housing receiving the connecting member and a channel receiving the retaining means, the housing and the channel being common to each other.

According to a feature of the invention, at least one corrugated reinforcing element comprises a housing receiving the connecting member and a channel receiving the retaining means, the housing and the channel being separated by at least one inner wall of the corrugated reinforcing element. The separation of the channels for the housing and the retaining means of the connecting member makes it possible to facilitate their respective insertion into the corrugated reinforcing element, avoiding mechanical interference between them.

According to another feature of the invention, there is a gap between the retaining device and the channel for the retaining device. It will be appreciated that the retaining means is not forced through the passage and this feature enhances the removable nature of the retaining means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the retaining means have a circular cross section.

The invention also relates to a tank for a ship for transporting liquid cargo, comprising at least one tank wall mounted according to any one of the aforementioned mounting features, or at least one tank wall according to any one of the aforementioned wall features.

The invention also relates to a system for loading or unloading lng, which system incorporates at least one onshore facility and at least one lng carrier comprising at least one tank according to the aforementioned characteristics.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for loading or unloading lng into or from a tank according to the aforementioned tank characteristics, or loading or unloading lng into or from an lng carrier according to the aforementioned characteristics.

Drawings

Further characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from a reading of the following description, on the one hand, and from a reading of several exemplary embodiments, given by way of indication and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a liquid gas carrier having four tanks comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective general view of a corrugated plate of the corrugated film;

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the tank wall showing a portion of one of the corrugated sheets of the corrugated membrane, the corrugated reinforcement and the insulation;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a stiffener frame including a retention device threaded according to a first insertion mode of the retention device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the holding device penetrating into the corrugated reinforcement according to a second mode of insertion of the holding device according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section of one of the corrugated reinforcing elements of FIG. 5, comprising a channel for a retaining device according to a first embodiment of the channel of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one of the corrugated reinforcing members of FIG. 4 including a channel for a retaining device according to a second embodiment of the channel of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a first step of installing a tank wall according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a second and third step of installing a tank wall according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a close-up view of the first free end portion of one of the retaining devices placed on the splint;

fig. 11 is a schematic view of a fourth step of installing a tank wall according to the invention.

Detailed Description

The features, alternatives and various embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Alternative forms of the invention may in particular be envisaged which comprise only a selection of the features described below, without the other features described, if said selection of features is sufficient to confer technical advantages to the invention or to distinguish it from the prior art.

Fig. 1 shows a vessel 1, such as a methane transport vessel, comprising four tanks 2 for storing liquid gas, in particular liquefied natural gas. The tanks 2 are separated from each other by a transverse double partition 4 (also called "cofferdam"). Each tank 2 is formed by a wall 6, which wall 6 comprises, inter alia, an insulating body (visible in fig. 3) which partly forms the insulating body of the wall 6, and a corrugated membrane comprising a plurality of corrugated plates, which corrugated membrane is in contact with the liquid cargo.

The corrugated plate 100 visible in fig. 2 is a plate of corrosion-resistant material, in particular stainless steel, having a thickness, measured in the vertical direction V of the corrugated plate 100, in the range of 0.5mm to 1.5mm, advantageously 1.2mm, for example. The corrugated board 100 may also have a length in the range of 680mm to 3060mm measured in the longitudinal direction L of the corrugated board 100. The corrugated plate 100 may have a width, measured in the transverse direction T of the corrugated plate 100, in the range of 680mm to 1030 mm. The corrugated sheet 100 is bounded at its periphery by edges 160.

The corrugated plate 100 comprises a plurality of first series of corrugations 110 which are parallel to each other and extend in the transverse direction T of the corrugated plate 100. The corrugated sheet 100 further comprises a plurality of second series of corrugations 120, which are parallel to each other and extend in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated sheet 100. According to the invention, the corrugated sheet 100 comprises nine first series of corrugations 110 and three second series of corrugations 120.

Corrugation is understood as the deformation of the surface of the corrugated plate 100 in the vertical direction of the corrugated plate 100. The corrugations in the cross-section then have a concave shape with an apex 150.

The first series of corrugations 110 and the second series of corrugations 120 extend primarily in directions at right angles to each other and form nodes 130 at their intersections. The nodes 130 emerge vertically from the plane AB in which the corrugated plate 100 lies. The end of at least one node 130 is higher than the apex 150 of the series of corrugations 110,120 of the corrugated sheet 100.

The corrugated plate 100 further comprises a planar portion 140 in the form of a quadrilateral, which is bounded on both sides in the longitudinal direction L of the corrugated plate 100 by two corrugations 120 of the second series and on the side in the transverse direction T of the corrugated plate 100 by two corrugations 110 of the first series. The planar portions 140 together define a non-deforming surface that extends above and contacts the planar surface AB of the corrugated plate 100 when the corrugated membrane is mounted against the insulator.

Fig. 3 shows, in part, the tank wall 6, which is intended to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank and anchored to the insulation 8, in particular a portion of a corrugated plate 100 with a corrugated membrane 10. Corrugated reinforcing elements 20 distributed over the two first corrugated reinforcing elements 21 and the second corrugated reinforcing element 22 are also located on the insulating body 8. In the following detailed description, the first corrugated reinforcement 21 and the second corrugated reinforcement 22 will be incorporated under the term corrugated reinforcement 20, when the features described are applicable to both types of corrugated reinforcements. However, the present invention is not limited to a plurality of corrugated reinforcing members, and is applicable as long as it is necessary to hold at least one corrugated reinforcing member on an insulator before installing corrugated plates.

The first corrugated stiffener 21 is aligned to form a first series of stiffeners 210 extending in the transverse direction T of the corrugated plate 100. The second corrugated stiffeners 22 are aligned to form a second series of stiffeners 220 extending in the longitudinal direction L of the corrugated plate 100. Thus, the first series of stiffeners 210 and the second series of stiffeners 220 are secant, particularly at right angles.

The first corrugation reinforcement 21 is located in the first series of corrugations 110 of the corrugated board 100. It will be appreciated that the first corrugation reinforcement 21 is positioned to nest in the deformations of the corrugations, the form of the first corrugation reinforcement 21 being complementary to the form of the corrugations of the first series of corrugations 110 of the corrugated sheet 100.

The second corrugated stiffener 22 is located in the second series of corrugations 120 of the corrugated board 100. It will be appreciated that the second corrugated reinforcing member 22 is positioned to nest in the deformation of the corrugations, the form of the second corrugated reinforcing member 22 being complementary to the form of the corrugations of the second series of corrugations 120 of the corrugated sheet 100.

It should also be understood that the intersections between the first series of stiffeners 210 and the second series of stiffeners 220 are located below the nodes 130 of the corrugated plate 100.

The connecting members 7 are located in the first and second corrugated reinforcements 21,22 such that they are connected to each other below the series of corrugations 110,120 of the corrugated plate 100. By way of non-limiting example, the connecting member 7 may be in the form of a cross.

In the following detailed description, the term "stiffener frame" will be used to refer to the set of a first series of stiffeners 210 and a second series of stiffeners 220, which are connected by at least one connecting member 7, in particular by a plurality of connecting members 7, under the same corrugated plate 100.

The tank wall 6, and more specifically the corrugated membrane 10, comprises a series of corrugated sheets 100 on an insulator 8 with corrugated stiffeners 20 therebetween forming a stiffener frame 230. Thus, it should be understood that each corrugated board 100 includes a reinforcement frame 230 located in the corrugations of the corrugated board 100. The corrugated reinforcement 20 makes it possible to mechanically support the corrugations of the corrugated membrane 10 in the event of deformation of the tank wall 6.

However, one difficulty with such a tank wall 6 is in mounting the reinforcement frame 230 on the insulator 8. In fact, the series of stiffeners 210, 220 and the connecting member 7 are weakly fixed or free with respect to each other, making the structure of the stiffener frame 230 unstable. Thus, the retaining means visible in fig. 4 make it possible to facilitate the positioning of the reinforcement frame 230 on the insulator 8.

Fig. 4 shows the penetration of the holding device 50 into the stiffener frame 230, that is to say into at least one first corrugated stiffener 21 in one of the stiffeners 210 of the first series, according to the first insertion mode of the holding device 50, as shown in the sectional view of fig. 7. In the illustrated example, the holding device 50 passes through all of the first corrugated reinforcing members 21 in one of the first series of reinforcing members 210 of the reinforcing member frame 230. The retaining means 50 take the form of a pin 51, for example, having a circular cross-section. According to a characteristic of the invention, the length of the retaining means 50 is greater than the length of the first series of stiffeners 210 through which they penetrate. It will be appreciated that the retaining device 50 includes at least one free end portion beyond the stiffener frame 230. In the example shown in fig. 4, the holding means 50 comprises a first free end 501 and a second free end 502 opposite the first free end 501, both free ends of the holding means 50 extending beyond the corrugated plate.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 5, showing a close-up view of the second insertion mode of the holding means 50, the holding means 50 is positioned in the stiffener frame 230 such that it passes through at least one second corrugated stiffener 22 in one of the second series of stiffeners 220, as shown in the cross-sectional view in fig. 6. In the illustrated example, the retaining means 50 is threaded into at least two second corrugated reinforcing elements 22 in one of the second series of reinforcing elements 220. According to the same features as in the first insertion mode of fig. 4, the length of the connecting member 50 is greater than the length of at least the second corrugated reinforcing element 22, here at least two second corrugated reinforcing elements 22, through which it passes. The retaining device 50 may also include at least a first free end and/or a second free end that extends beyond the second series of stiffeners 220 and the corrugated plate.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section in the vertical plane C visible in fig. 5 of one of the second corrugated reinforcing elements 22 comprising channels 35 according to the first embodiment, while fig. 7 shows a cross-section in the vertical plane D visible in fig. 4 of one of the first corrugated reinforcing elements 21 comprising channels 35 according to the second embodiment.

The corrugated stiffener 20 of fig. 6 and 7 includes an upper portion 24 and a base portion 30. The upper part 24 comprises a convex top wall 25, which top wall 25 is configured to fit the concave form of the corrugations of the corrugated sheet, i.e. the top 28 of the top wall 24 faces one of the vertices of one of the corrugations of the corrugated sheet.

The upper portion 24 is of a longitudinal through-hole design and includes at least one first internal void 26 a. Advantageously, the upper portion 24 comprises an internal web 27, the internal web 27 comprising a first internal wall 27a and a second internal wall 27 b. The first and second inner walls 27a, 27b meet at a central portion 34 such that the inner web 27 has a cruciform profile. The first inner wall 27a is closest to the apex 28 of the corrugated reinforcing member 20, while the second inner wall 27b is closest to the base 30 of the corrugated reinforcing member 20.

The function of the internal web 27 is to reinforce the upper portion 24 of the corrugated reinforcing member 20. The internal web 27 and the upper wall 25 define a second internal void 26b and a third internal void 26 c. Then, the central portion 34 is located between the first, second, and third internal voids 26a, 26b, 26 c. The internal voids 26a, 26b and 26c allow, among other things, the passage of inert gas in the corrugated reinforcing member 20.

The base portion 30 of the second corrugated reinforcing member 22 comprises a protruding portion 29, shown in fig. 5, which protrudes longitudinally beyond the upper portion 24 of the second corrugated reinforcing member 22. The projections 29 make it possible to create gaps at the nodes of the corrugation intersections of the corrugated sheets, thereby avoiding any mechanical interference between the nodes and the second corrugation reinforcement 22.

As can be seen, in particular in fig. 6 and 7, the base 30 of the corrugated reinforcing element 20 comprises two transverse walls 31, the two transverse walls 31 being parallel to each other and extending vertically in the continuation of the upper wall 25. The base 30 also comprises a bottom wall 32, which bottom wall 32 is opposite the apex 28 of the corrugated stiffener 20 in the vertical direction V of the corrugated sheet and extends at right angles to the two transverse walls 31, thus connecting them together. It will be appreciated that the bottom wall 32 is the wall that is in contact with the insulator when the corrugated stiffener 20 is positioned against the insulator.

The two transverse walls 31, the bottom wall 32 and the second inner wall 27b define a housing 33. By means of the concave form of the second inner wall 27b, the receptacle 33 then extends partially in the upper part 24 of the corrugated reinforcing element 20. Therefore, the receiving portion 33 allows the connecting member to pass therethrough so as to connect the first corrugated reinforcing member and the second corrugated reinforcing member.

According to a first embodiment of the channel 35 of the invention shown in fig. 6, the channel 35 receiving the retaining means 50 and the housing 33 receiving the connecting member 7 are common to each other. The retaining means 50 then extends facing the central portion 34 of the internal web 27, close to the second internal wall 27b, so that it does not interfere with the connecting member. Thus, the connecting member 50 penetrates into the second corrugated reinforcement 22 such that it is interposed between the connecting member and the apex 28 of the second corrugated reinforcement 22, more specifically, between the connecting member and the central portion 34.

According to a second embodiment of the channel 35 of the holding means 50 visible in fig. 7, the channel is formed in the first internal void 26a, closest to the apex 28 of the first corrugated reinforcing member 21. The channels 35 then correspond to the channels over the entire length of the upper portion 24 of the first corrugated reinforcing member 21. It will be understood that the receptacle 33 of the base 30 of the first corrugated reinforcing member 21 receiving the connecting member and the channel 35 receiving the retaining means 50 are separated from each other by the internal web 27 of the first corrugated reinforcing member 21. In a manner equivalent to the embodiment of fig. 3, the connecting member 50 penetrates into the first corrugated reinforcing member 21 so that it is interposed between the connecting member and the apex 28 of the first corrugated reinforcing member 21.

A method of installing a tank wall will now be described with reference to figures 8 to 10. These figures schematically show the different steps of the method for installing a tank wall according to the invention. All elements described above are not shown, in particular the connecting members, but all features described in fig. 1 to 7 apply to fig. 8 to 10.

The first step consists in assembling a corrugated stiffener frame, hereinafter referred to as second corrugated stiffener frame 230b, comprising in the example shown nine first series 210 of corrugated stiffeners 21 and three second series 220 of corrugated stiffeners 22, the three second series 220 of corrugated stiffeners 22 intersecting the nine first series 210 of corrugated stiffeners 21 at right angles. According to a feature of the invention, the length of the first series 210 of corrugated reinforcing elements 21 is less than the length of the second series 220 of corrugated reinforcing elements 22. The assembly of this second corrugated reinforcing frame 230b is accomplished by the connecting members described previously but not shown here.

According to the aforementioned characteristics, in order to facilitate the positioning of the second corrugated reinforcing frame 230b on the insulator 8, at least one retaining device 50 is pierced into at least one corrugated reinforcing element 21,22 of the series 210, 220 of corrugated reinforcing elements 21, 22. In the example shown here, four retaining means 50 are pierced into all the first corrugated reinforcing elements 21 of the four first series 210 of corrugated reinforcing elements 21.

The retaining means 50, here in the form of a pin 51, has a length greater than the length of the first series 210 of corrugated reinforcing elements 21 into which it penetrates. Further, according to a feature of the present invention, the holding means 50 extends a length greater than the width of the corrugated plate 100, as shown in fig. 9. Thus, the retaining means 50 extends on either side of the first series 210 of corrugated stiffeners 21 and comprises a first free end 501 and a second free end 502 which extend beyond the edges 160 of the first series 210 of corrugated stiffeners 21 and the second corrugated plate 100D, as shown in fig. 9.

Also visible in fig. 9, the insulator 8 comprises at least one metal strip 80, allowing at least one corrugated plate of the corrugated membrane to be welded. The first corrugated reinforcement frame 230a is positioned on the insulator 8 and covered by the first corrugated plate 100G. The first corrugation plate 100G is then fixed to the insulator 8 by welding to the metal strip 80.

By means of the retaining means 50 inserted in the support 36, one or more corrugated reinforcing elements 21,22 will be able to be placed on the insulating body 8. The first free end 501 of the retaining means 50 is pierced, by a rectilinear movement parallel to the majority of the plane of extension of the insulator 8 and in the insertion direction I, into at least one support 36, where the support 36 is formed, for example, by a first corrugated reinforcement 21 of the first series 210 of corrugated reinforcements 21 of the first corrugated reinforcement frame 230a, the corrugated reinforcement 21 being interposed between a first corrugated plate 100G fixed to the metal strip 80 and the insulator 8. In this way, all the first series 210 of corrugated reinforcing members 21 of the first and second corrugated reinforcing members frames 230a, 230b are aligned with each other.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, shown in fig. 10, one of the first free ends 501 of the holding device 50 can penetrate into the support 36, here in the form of a clamping plate 37. The clamp plate 37 takes the form of a support piece which is pre-fixed to the insulation 8 of the tank wall, for example by means of a power-sealing fit in the insulation, by means of a screw connection or by means of welding to the insulation. It is noted that it may be fixed to the insulation 8 before any corrugated plates are fixed to the tank wall.

Alternatively or in a complementary manner, the support 36, for example the clamping plate 37, can be fixed to the insulator 8 during the positioning of the second frame 230b of the corrugated reinforcement, that is to say after the second step of the method. In this case, the support 36 supports the second free end 502 of the holding device 50. The support 36, for example in the form of a clamping plate 37, then acts as an anti-gravity support for the second corrugated stiffener frame 230b, preventing the second corrugated stiffener frame 230b from bending vertically when it is positioned against the insulator 8, whether the relevant stiffener is positioned against a vertical portion of the insulator or against a horizontal portion of the insulator.

Once the first free end 501 of the holding means 50 is inserted into the first series 210 of corrugated reinforcing members 21 of the first corrugated reinforcing member frame 230a, the second corrugated reinforcing member frame 230b forms a self-supporting structure, as shown in fig. 9.

According to a third step of the method, the second corrugated sheet 100D is then positioned to cover the second corrugated reinforcement frame 230b and a portion of the edge 160 of the first corrugated sheet 100G covering the first corrugated reinforcement frame 230 a. The second corrugation plate 100D is then fixed to the first corrugation plate 100G and the insulator 8. This fixation may be achieved, for example, by welding to the metal strip 80, or by any other means that allows a reliable and tight fixation of the corrugated plates 100 to each other and to the insulator 8.

Once the second corrugation plate 100D is secured to the insulator 8, the second free end 502 of the retaining device 50 extends beyond the edge 160 of the corrugation plate 100. This feature allows to implement the fourth step of the method that is the subject of the invention. As shown in fig. 11, the retaining device 50 is then removed from the first series of corrugated reinforcing elements 210 by a rectilinear movement parallel to the insulator 8 and carried out in an extraction direction E opposite to the insertion direction I.

Subsequently, this operation can be reproduced with a third corrugated reinforcement frame (not shown) that will be able to be assembled and mounted on the insulator 8 according to the same steps and using the retaining means 50 removed from the same second corrugated reinforcement frame 230b as those carried out to mount the second corrugated reinforcement frame 230 b.

An alternative method of installing the tank wall will now be described. It is to be understood that in the following description, only features that differ from the aforementioned mounting method will be described in detail. For common features, reference will be made to the steps of fig. 8 to 10 and the associated description.

After assembling the corrugated stiffener frame as described above, a first step of the alternative method comprises inserting a retaining device into at least one corrugated stiffener in one of the series of corrugated stiffeners. Advantageously, four retaining means are screwed into all first corrugated reinforcing elements of the four first series of corrugated reinforcing elements. As for the previously described mounting method, the retaining means are pins.

In a second step of the alternative mounting method, the corrugated stiffeners of the stiffener frame, which are held relative to each other by the holding means, are positioned against the corrugated plates. In other words, each corrugated reinforcement constituting the reinforcement frame is inserted into one corrugation of the corrugated plate.

Subsequently, in a third step, the corrugated plate against which the corrugated reinforcement is held by the holding means is fitted against the insulator. The corrugated plate is then secured against the insulator, for example by a metal strip extending along said insulator. Thus, it becomes possible to fix the corrugated plate to the insulator by welding.

Finally, once the corrugated plates are fixed to the insulator and the corrugated reinforcement is interposed between the insulator and said corrugated plates, in a fourth step the retaining means are removed from the corrugated reinforcement. More specifically, as previously mentioned, the retaining means are removed from the corrugated stiffener by one of its free ends extending beyond the edge of the corrugated sheet, by a rectilinear movement in a withdrawal direction opposite to the insertion direction of said retaining means.

This alternative mounting method can be used for all corrugated reinforcements and the corrugated sheets that constitute the tank wall.

The invention thus achieves the objects set for it by facilitating the mounting of at least one corrugated stiffener on the insulation of the tank wall of a liquid natural gas carrier by means of a removable stiffener retaining device.

The invention, however, is not limited to the specifically described and illustrated devices and configurations, but is equally applicable to all equivalent devices or configurations and any combination of such devices or configurations.