Abstract: An element in particular for a fluid-tight connecting structure between the side wall and the roof of a storage tank in particular for a molten salt, consisting of an arcuate sheet metal strip provided with at least one longitudinal projecting corrugation the crest of which is formed with spaced transverse depressions, said projecting corrugation having a cross-section in the shape of an acute angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of building a reservoir for storing liquefied natural gas at low temperature.This method consists in fixing on the internal wall 22 of the concrete vessel 3 a first thin lining 21 forming a first fluid-tight barrier, then in completely filling the space between the tank 2 and the concrete vessel 3 by means of a heat-insulating structure comprising an assembly of stacked blocks 25 of insulating material, associated with a second thin lining 24 forming a second fluid-tight barrier, said structure being supported by the concrete vessel and simply arranged round the inner tank.The building method according to the invention applies in particular to liquefied natural gas storage reservoirs installed on solid ground.

Abstract: A storage tank for cryogenic liquefied gases comprising an outer shell, a fluid-tight inner shell defining the storage space containing the liquefied gas and an insulating structure provided in the evacuated intermediate space, the insulating structure including a wall made of juxtaposed hollow, evacuated panels, the joints between adjacent panels being tightly covered by elements adapted to take up the cold-induced wall shrinkage, the elements and the inner wall of said juxtaposed panels forming said inner shell.

Abstract: A pipe-line for conveying a fluid submerged in an ambient fluid medium has an inner conveying tube surrounded by an outer tube radially spaced from the inner tube and defining a continuous annular space therebetween. A leak conductor communicating with a leak collector and surrounding the inner conveying tube conducts leaks of conveyed fluid to the leak collector. The leak collector has a reduced cross-section and is divided into adjacent sections isolated in a fluid-tight manner relative to each other and extending throughout the length of the tube. Each of the sections has at least a single valve automatically opened by predetermined pressure of the conveyed fluid leaks for providing communication with the annular space surrounding the inner tube.

Abstract: A fluid-conveying, flexible, lagged pipe for building up in particular a liquefied natural gas carrying pipe-line connecting an off-shore platform for working submarine oil fields or like underwater pools to a tanker ship and comprising an inner tubular duct including an inner helical metal spring, an intermediate layer of yielding composite material and an outer helical metal spring like the inner spring but longitudinally offset by half a pitch of turns with respect to the latter so that the turns of said outer spring be nested between those, respectively, of said inner spring.

Abstract: A relatively thin, flexible, impervious, sheet-like laminated building material comprising at least three continuous overlying layers of yielding material adapted to withstand very severe cold conditions, bonded together and consisting of at least one first mechanically strong supporting endmost layer having a thickness of from about 0.3 to about 0.6 mm; at least one impervious film-like layer having a thickness of from 0.04 to 0.10 mm and at least one second endmost lining layer providing at least a mechanical and at least temporary protection and having a thickness from about 0.3 to 0.6 mm.

Abstract: A cryogenic tank comprising an innermost fluid-confining wall forming a primary barrier made form relatively thin, flexible, impervious, sheet-like laminated building material comprising at least three continuous overlying layers of yielding material adapted to withstand very severe cold conditions, bonded together and consisting of at least one first mechanically strong supporting outer layer, at least one impervious film-like intermediate layer and at least one second inner lining layer providing at least a mechanical and at least temporary protection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermally insulating composite wall for any kind of tank on ships or on land. The wall comprises a self-supporting external wall, a bed of thermally insulating elements secured to said wall at least partially by means of a hardened packing material and a fluid-tight internal lining; said material may notably be a cellular material in contact with all the external surface of this bed and obtained by in situ expansion and subsequent hardening of a deformable product capable of spontaneous expansion which has been previously placed according to a discontinuous distribution.

Abstract: Method of assembling and laying at least one fluid conveying conduit between an on-shore point and an advanced off-shore point, including erecting, regularly on the bottom of the sea, partially emersed pillars, prefabricating conduit sections before or after erecting the pillars, mounting said sections between and at least partially supporting the same on the successive pillars and interconnecting these sections. Where there are at least three conduits, they may be provided in a bunch arrangement and suspended between the pillars. Where the conduits are partially immersed, they are provided with a rising branch at each end to be connected one to another above the level of the sea.

Abstract: A method of mounting a composite heat-insulating wall structure for a tank for the transportation of liquefied gases, wherein a wall of heat-insulating material is injected directly onto the secondary barrier formed by the ship's double hull, the primary barrier being secured on the insulating wall. This insulating wall is injected through the medium of moulds.

Abstract: A relatively thin, flexible, impervious, sheet-like laminated building material comprising at least three continuous overlying layers of yielding material adapted to withstand very severe cold conditions, bonded together and consisting of at least one first mechanically strong supporting endmost layer; at least one impervious film-like layer and at least one second endmost lining layer providing at least a mechanical and at least temporary protection.

Abstract: A system for loading and/or unloading at sea a transportation vessel conveying incoherent products comprising ship mooring means, an arrangement for transferring or handling incoherent goods comprising a loading and/or unloading tower supported by the bottom of the sea and partially submerged as well as a movable loading boom associated with said tower, said mooring means being separated from or independent of said cargo transfer or handling arrangement.

Abstract: A conduit for conveyance of a fluid and especially liquefied natural gas and comprising an internal circulation pipe for said fluid surrounded with a sheath of insulating material protected by an outer rigid covering, said sheath comprising several fluid-tight lap joints of coaxial structure and variable lap surface and said circulation pipe being interrupted at joint emplacements thus communicating with corresponding fluid-tight annular cylindrical spaces defined between a respective stationary coaxial sleeve surrounding a gap of said circulation pipe and two corrugate or waved compensators respectively connected between one sleeve end and the external surface of said circulation pipe at either side of said gap.

Abstract: A method of processing an impure effluent fluid provided in two gaseous and liquid phases, respectively, for regenerating same to a pure re-usable substance, consisting in converting the gaseous phase into a liquid phase; subjecting each liquid phase separately to an independent fractional distillation for extracting said pure substance therefrom in the vapor state as an overhead product; condensing said pure substance into liquid condition, separately collecting the condensate from each fractional distillation by gathering same to form a separate storage and taking at least one part therefrom which will be cooled through heat exchange with a refrigerating fluid and jointly recovered.

Abstract: A fluid-tight heat insulated tank wall structure comprising a rigid outer wall, an inner membrane-like impervious primary barrier wall and an intermediate heat insulating material carrying said inner wall and consisting of: an inner end layer of balsa wood or polyvinyl chloride, one composite laminated layer of sandwich panels composed of two spaced plywood plated and filling material interposed therebetween; and an outer end layer of cellular material.

Abstract: A method of building a composite wall construction comprising the steps of applying patches of a deformable cement-like stuffing or packing compound onto the outer faces of lining elements and then applying said lining elements to a rigid self-supporting wall while gradually squashing said patches of compound by means of pressure exerted thereon through abutment means by screwing nuts thereon.

Abstract: A device for supporting a rigid tank for very cold or hot fluids in a vehicle comprising a continuous annular horizontal foot-plate surrounding and integral with a tank and freely resting on a continuous annular bed-plate forming the top of the resiliently bearing base secured to the vehicle structure and surrounding the tank, heat insulating material being interposed between said foot- and bed-plates and consisting of blocks juxtaposed to form a ring with the top surface of which the foot-plate is in sliding contact.

Abstract: An enclosure for confining radio-active products or waste comprising a fluid-tight underground rigid supporting outer shell of reinforced concrete opening to the outside through a reinforced concrete chimney, an innermost vessel for containing said radioactive products or waste, surrounded by said shell and made from thin corrugated stainless steel sheet material, an intermediate vessel made from thin corrugated stainless steel sheet material, located between said shell and innermost vessel and surrounding the latter, means for cooling said vessels through fluid flow circulation by natural convection within ducts adjacent to at least one of said vessels and means for feeding and/or discharging said radio-active products or waste into or from said innermost vessel.