US 2022/0034453 A1Published application

Method for checking the leakproofness of a leakproof and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid

AssigneeGaztransport Et Technigaz

InventorsMaxime CHAMPAGNAC, Pierre JOLIV, Mathieu PETITPAS, Mael BLEOMEL, Damlen BRENAC, Laurent SPITTAEL, Vincent BRIATTE, Julien GLORY

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Abstract

A method for checking the sealing of a sealed tank for storing a liquefied gas at low temperature, the tank having an inner hull and a secondary sealing membrane, a secondary space that is arranged between the inner hull and the secondary sealing membrane, a primary sealing membrane and a primary space that is arranged between the primary sealing membrane and the secondary sealing membrane is disclosed. The method has the following main steps: generating a pressure lower than the pressure of the primary space in the secondary space using a suction device, measuring the temperature of an outer surface of the inner hull, and detecting the location of a sealing defect of the secondary sealing membrane in the form of a cold spot on the outer surface of the inner hull.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for checking the sealing of a sealed and thermally insulating tank (1) for storing a liquefied gas at low temperature (30), the tank (1) being at low temperature (30), the tank (1) comprising a carrier structure which has an inner hull (2) and an outer hull (3), a confined space (4) between the inner hull (2) and the outer hull (3), a primary sealing membrane (9) which is intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas at low temperature (30) contained in the tank (1), and a secondary sealing membrane (7) which is arranged between the primary sealing membrane (9) and the inner hull (2), a primary space (8) between the primary sealing membrane (9) and the secondary sealing membrane (7) and a secondary space (6) between the secondary sealing membrane (7) and the inner hull (2), the primary space (8) and the secondary space (6) comprising insulating materials, the primary space (8) comprising a primary gas inlet (18) and a primary gas outlet (26), the secondary space (6) comprising a secondary gas inlet (25) and a secondary gas outlet (19), the primary sealing membrane resting directly on the insulating materials contained in the primary space and the secondary sealing membrane resting directly on the insulating materials contained in the secondary space, the method comprising the following main steps:

generating a pressure lower than the pressure of the primary space (8) in the secondary space (6) using a suction device (80) which is connected to the secondary gas outlet (19),
measuring the temperature of an outer surface of the inner hull (2) from the confined space (4) located around the inner hull (2),
detecting the location of a sealing defect of the secondary sealing membrane (7) in the form of a cold spot (43) on the outer surface of the inner hull (2).

A floating or onshore storage installation for a liquefied gas at low temperature (30) comprising:

a tank (1) at low temperature (30) comprising a carrier structure which has an inner hull (2) and an outer hull (3), the space between the inner hull (2) and the outer hull (3) being referred to as the confined space (4), a primary sealing membrane (9) which is intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas at low temperature (30) contained in the tank, and a secondary sealing membrane (7) which is arranged between the primary sealing membrane (9) and the inner hull (2), the space between the primary sealing membrane (9) and the secondary sealing membrane (7) is referred to as the primary space (8) and the space between the secondary sealing membrane (7) and the inner hull (2) is referred to as the secondary space (6), the primary space (8) and the secondary space (6) comprising insulating materials, the primary space (8) comprising a primary gas inlet (18) and a primary gas outlet (26), the secondary space (6) comprising a secondary gas inlet (25) and a secondary gas outlet (19), the primary sealing membrane resting directly on the insulating materials contained in the primary space and the secondary sealing membrane resting directly on the insulating materials contained in the secondary space,
an inert gas reservoir (16) which is arranged in order to inject the inert gas into the primary space (8),
an injection device (45) which is capable of injecting the inert gas of the inert gas reservoir (16) via the primary gas inlet (18), and thus placing the primary space (8) under pressure relative to the secondary space (6),
a suction device (80) which is connected to the secondary gas outlet (19) in order to generate a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure in the secondary space (6),
a device for measuring the temperature of the outer surface of the inner hull (2),
a system for displaying the temperature measurements in order to locate a sealing defect of the secondary sealing membrane (7) in the form of a cold spot (43) on the outer surface of the inner hull (2).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/311,828Filed 19 Dec 2019
Priority: FR 187390021 Dec 2018
Published: 3 Feb 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

F17C 3/027
Bulk storage in barges or on ships: wallpanels for so-called membrane tanks
F17C 13/026
Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment: having the temperature as the parameter
G01M 3/002
Investigating fluid-tightness of structures: by using thermal means
G01M 3/226
For pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators: for containers, e.g. radiators

Family

US 12,117,129 B2Related patent
US 2022/0034453 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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