# US 10,767,815 B2 · Tank arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,815 B2 - Document ID: US10767815B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/185,896 - Filed: 2018-11-09 - Published: 2019-03-14 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-10 - Assignees: WäRtsilä Finland Oy - Applicants: WäRtsiläFinland Oy - Inventors: Marcin Malys; Maciej Adamowicz; Malgorzata Koczur-Grazawska; Grzegorz Slusarski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767815B2 ## CPC - F17C 3/025: {Bulk storage in barges or on ships (constructive aspects B63B25/16)} - F17C 3/04: by insulating layers (F17C3/08 takes precedence) - F17C 2201/0152: Lobes - F17C 2201/035: with substantially horizontal main axis - F17C 2201/054: medium (>1 m3) - F17C 2203/0333: Polyurethane - F17C 2203/0617: with one layer - F17C 2203/0643: Stainless steels - F17C 2205/018: Supporting feet - F17C 2221/033: Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG - F17C 2223/0161: cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG - F17C 2223/033: Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas - F17C 2260/011: Improving strength - F17C 2270/0105: Ships - 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 (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) ## Abstract An exemplary tank arrangement for storing liquefied natural gas includes a multilobe tank having at least three tank sections arranged in a row in a lateral direction, wherein each tank section is supported against a support surface with a first support allowing movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction and with a second support, at least one of the second supports preventing movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction. One tank section has a third support, which allows movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction and prevents movement in the lateral direction. The first and second supports allow shrinkage and expansion of the tank in the lateral direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tank arrangement for storing liquefied natural gas, the arrangement comprising: a multilobe tank having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction and a lateral axis defining a lateral direction, the tank including at least three tank sections arranged in a row in the lateral direction, each tank section being supported against a support surface with a first support supporting the tank in vertical direction and allowing movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction, and with a second support supporting the tank in the vertical direction, at least one of the second supports preventing movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction; and one of the tank sections including a third support, which supports the tank in the vertical direction and allows movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction and prevents movement in the lateral direction, wherein the first and second supports are configured to allow shrinkage and expansion of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, wherein all the second supports of the arrangement are configured to prevent movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the first supports is configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first support of the tank section that is supported by the third support is configured to prevent movement of the tank in the lateral direction, and the first supports of other tank sections are configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the second supports is configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second support of the tank section that is supported by the third support is configured to prevent movement of the tank in the lateral direction, and the second supports of other tank sections are configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the third support is arranged to support a centermost tank section of the three tank section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tank section that is provided with the third support comprising: a fourth support configured to allow movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction and prevent movement in the lateral direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A tank arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the first support and the second support are arranged between the third support and fourth support in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A tank arrangement according to claim 1, in combination with a sea going vessel comprising: a vessel hull. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A combination according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal axis of the tank is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vessel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) A tank arrangement according to claim 2, wherein each of the first supports is configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) A tank arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first support of the tank section that is supported by the third support is configured to prevent movement of the tank in the lateral direction, and the first supports of other tank sections are configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A tank arrangement according to claim 12, wherein each of the second supports is configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A tank arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the second support of the tank section that is supported by the third support is configured to prevent movement of the tank in the lateral direction, and the second supports of other tank sections are configured to allow movement of the tank in the lateral direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A tank arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the third support is arranged to support a centermost tank section of the three tank section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A tank arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the tank section that is provided with the third support comprising: a fourth support configured to allow movement of the tank relative to the support surface in the longitudinal direction and prevent movement in the lateral direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A tank arrangement according to claim 17, in combination with a sea going vessel comprising: a vessel hull. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A combination according to claim 18, wherein the longitudinal axis of the tank is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vessel.