Abstract: A cylindrical structure includes a vertical wall (3) and a bottom wall (2), the bottom wall having a plurality of sectors (4) which are rotated images of each other, each sector including a plurality of adjacent rectangular elements (8), characterized by the fact that the bottom wall has the shape of a regular polygon whereof each side (6) corresponds to one of the sectors, the edges of the rectangular elements of one sector being respectively perpendicular and parallel to the side of the polygon corresponding to the sector.

Abstract: A device for supplying fuel to an onboard energy production installation (5) on a liquefied gas transport ship (1) from at least one liquefied gas tank (2) of the ship includes a liquid ejector (12) arranged in the tank in order to suck liquefied gas at the level of the bottom of the tank, a circulating pump (20) arranged above the tank, a liquid circuit (21, 22, 23, 24) connecting an outlet of the circulating pump to an inlet of the liquid ejector and an outlet of the liquid ejector to an inlet of the circulating pump to permit the closed-loop circulation of a stream of liquefied gas through the liquid ejector, and a feed line (28) connecting the liquid circuit to the energy production installation.

Abstract: A device for supplying fuel from an onboard energy producing installation on a ship transporting liquefied gas from at least one tank (2) of liquefied gas of said ship, comprising a pump (20) arranged in the bottom of the tank and a reservoir (23) arranged in the tank around the pump and designed to maintain a suction of the pump in a submerged state, characterized in that it comprises a liquid ejector (12) arranged in the tank so as to be able to suction the liquefied gas at the bottom of the tank, and a liquid circuit (21, 22, 24, 250) connecting an outlet of the pump to an inlet of the ejector, on one hand, and an outlet of the ejector to the reservoir, on the other hand.

Abstract: Self-supporting timber box having a base panel, lateral walls each projecting perpendicularly from one side of the base panel to delimit the profile of an internal space of the box, a plurality of internal partitions (14) which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base panel and which extend between the lateral walls in such a way as to divide the internal space into a plurality of compartments intended to receive a heat-insulating lining, and a cover panel, wherein it has at least one stiffening element (16) which is positioned in the internal space transversely with respect to the internal partitions and which has an area of connection (17, 18) to each of the internal partitions to increase the buckling resistance of the internal partitions, the area of connection extending over a depth greater than or equal to half of the distance between the base and cover panels.

Abstract: A sealed wall structure includes at least one sealed plate (10), the plate (10) being corrugated with at least one first series of corrugations and a second series of corrugations (6) of transverse directions, the corrugations protruding toward the internal face of a tank. The structure includes at least one reinforcing ridge (11) made on at least one corrugation of a series in its portion lying between two successive intersections (8) with corrugations of the other series, each ridge (11) being generally convex and made locally on at least one lateral face (6b) of the corrugation that supports it.

Abstract: A sealed, thermally insulated tank consists of tank walls fixed to the load-bearing structure of a ship, the tank walls having, in succession, in the direction of the thickness from the inside to the outside of the tank, a primary sealing barrier, a primary insulating barrier, a secondary sealing barrier and a secondary insulating barrier, at least one of the insulating barriers consisting essentially of juxtaposed non-conducting elements (3), each non-conducting element including a thermal insulation liner, at least one panel and load-bearing partitions rising through the thickness of the thermal insulation liner in order to take up the compression forces. These partitions include at least one anti-buckle partition (14) that includes a plurality of anti-buckle wall elements that have a respective orientation forming an angle relative to a general longitudinal direction of the anti-buckle partition, for example forming corrugations or double-wall portions.

Abstract: Method of adhesively bonding second insulating blocks to a ship's inner hull using beads of mastic for the production of a sealed, thermally insulating tank for the transportation of liquefied gases, the tank having two successive sealing barriers alternated with two insulating barriers of first and second insulating blocks produced from plywood panels and containing or carrying thermally insulating materials, the second insulating blocks of the secondary insulating barrier being fastened directly against the inner hull, the method including applying beads of mastic to the lower face of the panels of the second insulating blocks along mutually parallel lines, positioning the second insulating blocks against the inner hull, and pressing thereof against the inner hull until polymerization of the mastic, wherein at least two of the beads on the lower face of at least one panel of the second insulating blocks are arranged along wavy parallel lines.

Abstract: Method for testing the sealing of a test specimen (21) comprising a sealing film and two fibrous reinforcing layers, one on each side of the said sealing film, the said method comprising the steps of: connecting the said test specimen to a test bench (22), conducting a first test of behaviour under pressure, subjecting the said test specimen to at least a first thermal shock, and conducting at least a second test of behaviour under pressure, characterized in that the said method comprises at least the steps of: removing the said test specimen from the said test bench after the said first test of behaviour under pressure, and subjecting the said test specimen to the said first thermal shock remotely from the said test bench, and refixing the said test specimen to the said test bench to conduct the said second test of behaviour under pressure.

Abstract: Panel (1) comprising, in succession, a first rigid board forming the back of the panel, a first thermally insulating layer (3) borne by the said backboard, an impervious covering (4) covering the said first thermally insulating layer, a second thermally insulating layer (5) which partially covers the said impervious covering and a second rigid board (6) covering the said second thermally insulating layer, characterized in that it comprises a film (8) which covers at least part of the said impervious covering which is not covered by the said second thermally insulating layer, the said film comprising at least one protective portion (9) and at least one spew portion (11) adjacent to the said protective portion, the said protective portion and the said spew portion being able to be detached from the said impervious covering independently of one another.

Abstract: A method for cooling a product (P) including N ordered adsorption/desorption cycles (100, 200, 300), each cycle having the following steps: expanding a refrigerant in liquid phase from a condenser (101, 201, 301) inside an evaporator (103, 203, 303) for evaporating at least one portion of the refrigerant, and; adsorbing this refrigerant in vapor phase inside at least one adsorption/desorption chamber (120, 220, 320) containing a zeolite adsorbent (Z) whereby cooling a remaining portion of the refrigerant in the evaporator to a predetermined low temperature, the low temperature decreasing from one cycle to the next. The method also includes the following steps: effecting N-1 heat exchanges each time the refrigerant enters the evaporator (103, 203) of a cycle and each time the refrigerant enters the condenser (201, 301) of the following cycle for condensing the refrigerant in the condenser.

Abstract: A mechanically welded structure comprising a first flat and thin metallic structural element extending in a plane and delimited by a straight edge on one side, and a second metallic structural element welded to the straight edge of the first structural element, or welded to an intermediate element connected to the straight edge and inserted between the first and second structural elements, the second structural element exerting, at least one point of the straight edge, a force resolving into at least one component extending in said plane perpendicularly to the straight edge, wherein the first structural element has a stress-relieving slit extending parallel to the straight edge and situated facing the point at which said force is exerted.

Abstract: A method for cooling a product (P) including N ordered adsorption/desorption cycles (100, 200, 300), each cycle having the following steps: expanding a refrigerant in liquid phase from a condenser (101, 201, 301) inside an evaporator (103, 203, 303) for evaporating at least one portion of the refrigerant, and; adsorbing this refrigerant in vapor phase inside at least one adsorption/desorption chamber (120, 220, 320) containing a zeolite adsorbent (Z) whereby cooling a remaining portion of the refrigerant in the evaporator to a predetermined low temperature, the low temperature decreasing from one cycle to the next. The method also includes the following steps: effecting N-1 heat exchanges each time the refrigerant enters the evaporator (103, 203) of a cycle and each time the refrigerant enters the condenser (201, 301) of the following cycle for condensing the refrigerant in the condenser.

Abstract: A sealed, thermally insulated tank consists of tank walls fixed to the load-bearing structure of a ship, the tank walls having, in succession, in the direction of the thickness from the inside to the outside of the tank, a primary sealing barrier, a primary insulating barrier, a secondary sealing barrier and a secondary insulating barrier, at least one of the insulating barriers consisting essentially of juxtaposed non-conducting elements (3), each non-conducting element including a thermal insulation liner, at least one panel and load-bearing partitions rising through the thickness of the thermal insulation liner in order to take up the compression forces. These partitions include at least one anti-buckle partition (14) that includes a plurality of anti-buckle wall elements that have a respective orientation forming an angle relative to a general longitudinal direction of the anti-buckle partition, for example forming corrugations or double-wall portions.

Abstract: A sealed, thermally insulated tank consists of tank walls fixed to the load-bearing structure of a ship, the tank walls having, in succession, in the direction of the thickness from the inside to the outside of the tank, a primary sealing barrier, a primary insulating barrier, a secondary sealing barrier and a secondary insulating barrier, at least one of the insulating barriers consisting essentially of juxtaposed non-conducting elements (3), each non-conducting element including a thermal insulation liner, at least one panel and load-bearing partitions rising through the thickness of the thermal insulation liner in order to take up the compression forces. These partitions include at least one anti-buckle partition (14) that includes a plurality of anti-buckle wall elements that have a respective orientation forming an angle relative to a general longitudinal direction of the anti-buckle partition, for example forming corrugations or double-wall portions.

Abstract: Sealed, thermally insulated tank consisting of tank walls fixed to the load-bearing structure (1) of a floating structure, said tank walls having, in succession, in the direction of the thickness from the inside to the outside of said tank, a primary sealing barrier (8), a primary insulating barrier (6), a secondary sealing barrier (5) and a secondary insulating barrier (2), at least one of said insulating barriers consisting essentially of juxtaposed non-conducting elements, each non-conducting element including a thermal insulation liner (63) and load-bearing elements that rise through the thickness of said thermal insulation liner in order to take up the compression forces, characterized in that the load-bearing elements of a non-conducting element include pillars (65) of small transverse section as compared to the dimensions of the non-conducting element in a plane parallel to said tank wall.

Abstract: A device for supplying fuel to an onboard energy production installation (5) on a liquefied gas transport ship (1) from at least one liquefied gas tank (2) of the ship includes a liquid ejector (12) arranged in the tank in order to suck liquefied gas at the level of the bottom of the tank, a circulating pump (20) arranged above the tank, a liquid circuit (21, 22, 23, 24) connecting an outlet of the circulating pump to an inlet of the liquid ejector and an outlet of the liquid ejector to an inlet of the circulating pump to permit the closed-loop circulation of a stream of liquefied gas through the liquid ejector, and a feed line (28) connecting the liquid circuit to the energy production installation.

Abstract: Self-supporting timber box having a base panel, lateral walls each projecting perpendicularly from one side of the base panel to delimit the profile of an internal space of the box, a plurality of internal partitions (14) which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base panel and which extend between the lateral walls in such a way as to divide the internal space into a plurality of compartments intended to receive a heat-insulating lining, and a cover panel, wherein it has at least one stiffening element (16) which is positioned in the internal space transversely with respect to the internal partitions and which has an area of connection (17, 18) to each of the internal partitions to increase the buckling resistance of the internal partitions, the area of connection extending over a depth greater than or equal to half of the distance between the base and cover panels.

Abstract: A sealed wall structure includes at least one sealed plate (10), the plate (10) being corrugated with at least one first series of corrugations and a second series of corrugations (6) of secant directions, the corrugations protruding toward the internal face of a tank. The structure includes at least one reinforcing ridge (11) made on at least one corrugation of a series in its portion lying between two successive intersections (8) with corrugations of the other series, each ridge (11) being generally convex and made locally on at least one lateral face (6b) of the corrugation that supports it.

Abstract: A watertight and thermally insulating tank built into a bearing structure includes at least one wall having a variable width and forming oblique solid angles of intersection with the adjacent walls, the tank includes secondary insulating and watertightness barriers and a primary insulating barrier which are formed by panels fixed to the walls and able to hold a primary watertightness barrier. The primary water-tightness barrier includes, at each variable-width wall, one or more central strake(s) (63) arranged longitudinally and each fixed to underlying panels (12), running strakes (66) being held mechanically, by a sliding joint, parallel to the oblique solid angles of intersection, on underlying panels and fixed at the ends to the central strakes, so that the tensile forces (F) experienced by the running strakes in their longitudinal dimension are transmitted to the bearing structure via the central strakes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a watertight and thermally insulating tank built into a bearing structure comprising at least one wall having a variable width and forming oblique solid angles of intersection with the adjacent walls, the said tank comprising secondary insulating and watertightness barriers and a primary insulating barrier which are formed by panels fixed to the walls and able to hold a primary watertightness barrier, the said primary watertightness barrier comprises, at each variable-width wall, one or more central strake(s) (63) arranged longitudinally and each fixed to underlying panels (12), running strakes (66) being held mechanically, by a sliding joint, parallel to the oblique solid angles of intersection, on underlying panels and fixed at the ends to the central strakes, so that the tensile forces (F) experienced by the running strakes in their longitudinal dimension are transmitted to the bearing structure via the central strakes.