FR3105342A1 - Thermally insulating barrier for a tank wall - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermally insulating barrier (5) for a wall (1) of a sealed and thermally insulating tank fixed to a supporting structure (2), the thermally insulating barrier (5) comprising: - insulating panels (11) having at least one housing (18) which, at the level of an external plate (15) of at least one of the insulating panels (11), provides a support zone (17); - an anchoring device ( 12) which is arranged inside the housing (18),; and - an insulating plug (25) which is housed inside the housing (18) comprising a layer of polymer foam (23) which has a support zone by which said insulating plug (25) bears, in a direction thickness of the thermally insulating barrier (5), in the direction of the supporting structure (2). Figure to be published: 5

Description

Thermally insulating barrier for a wall of a tank

The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and/or transport of a liquefied gas, such as tanks for the transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG) having for example a temperature between between -50°C and 0°C, or for transporting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -162°C at atmospheric pressure.

These tanks can be installed on land or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas used as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.

Technology background

Application FR3064042 discloses a sealed and thermally insulating liquefied natural gas storage tank having a wall comprising, in a direction of thickness, a supporting structure, a secondary thermally insulating barrier, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary sealing membrane which rests against the primary thermally insulating barrier and is intended to be in contact with the fluid stored in the vessel.

The primary thermally insulating barrier comprises primary insulating panels which are juxtaposed and each comprise an outer rigid plate and a layer of polymer foam which is fixed to the outer rigid plate and is placed between the outer rigid plate and the primary sealing membrane. The primary insulating panels have recesses which extend over the entire thickness of the layer of polymer foam and which provide, at the level of the external rigid plate, a support zone, the support zone of the external rigid plate cooperating with an anchoring device.

The anchoring device comprises a pin which is fixed directly or indirectly to the load-bearing structure, a retaining element which is mounted on the pin and bears against the support zone of the external rigid plate. The anchoring device further comprises a nut which is screwed onto the stud and which secures the retaining element to the stud.

The thermally insulating barrier further comprises a reinforcing insulating plug which is housed in the recess of the layer of polymer foam so as to ensure continuity of the thermal insulation of the primary thermally insulating barrier. The reinforcing insulating plug extends along the direction of thickness, from the support zone of the external rigid plate to the primary sealing membrane so as to take up the compression forces likely to be exerted on the primary waterproofing membrane.

The outer end of the reinforcing insulating plug is hollowed out so as to provide a housing for housing the nut and the end of the stud. Given the dimensions of said housing, the surface of the insulating cap which rests against the support plate is small.

Thus, in order to prevent the insulating foam layer of the insulating cap from crushing, FR3064042 teaches to increase the density of the insulating foam layer of the reinforcing insulating cap. However, the increase in density also has the effect of increasing the cost of the insulating plug and locally degrading the thermal performance.

Summary

An idea at the basis of the invention consists in proposing a thermally insulating barrier equipped with an insulating plug intended to be housed in a recess of the thermally insulating barrier receiving an anchoring device and in which the reinforcing insulating plug makes it possible to ensure continuity of the thermal insulation of the thermally insulating barrier and excellent absorption of the compression forces likely to be exerted on the primary sealing membrane, for example hydrostatic and/or sloshing forces.

According to one embodiment, the invention provides a thermally insulating barrier for a wall of a sealed and thermally insulating tank fixed to a supporting structure, the thermally insulating barrier comprising:
- insulating panels defining an internal support surface of a sealing membrane, the insulating panels each comprising an internal plate, an external plate and a layer of polymeric foam which is placed between the external plate and the internal plate; the insulating panels having at least one housing which opens at the level of the said internal support surface of the sealing membrane and which forms, at the level of the external plate of at least one of the insulating panels, a support zone;
- an anchoring device which is arranged inside the housing, the anchoring device comprising a pin fixed directly or indirectly to the load-bearing structure, a retaining element which exerts a force on the support zone and a member fixing which is fixed on the stud and which keeps the retaining element bearing towards the bearing zone; And
- an insulating plug which is housed inside the housing and has an internal surface flush with the internal support surface of the sealing membrane, the insulating plug comprising a layer of polymer foam which has a support zone through which said plug insulation is supported, along a direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier, in the direction of the load-bearing structure, the support zone having, in projection in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thickness, a surface S which is greater than a subtraction S1 - S2; with :
S1: a surface of a section of the housing, in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thickness, at the support zone, and
S2: π*(d2/2) ² with d2 an overall diameter of the fastener, in projection in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thickness.

By support zone is meant the zone of the layer of polymer foam of the insulating plug through which the compression forces are likely to pass, in particular under the effect of the dynamic and hydrostatic pressures exerted by the liquid contained in the tank on the membrane. sealing.

Thus, thanks to the aforementioned characteristics, the support zone of the insulating cap has a larger surface area than in the state of the art, which makes it possible to ensure better absorption of the compression forces without the polymer foam layer of the insulating plugs has a higher density than the polymer foam layer of insulating panels.

According to other advantageous embodiments, such a thermally insulating barrier may have one or more of the following characteristics.

According to one embodiment, the fixing member is a nut cooperating with a threaded end of the stud.

According to one embodiment, the insulating panels comprise an internal plate which defines the internal support surface of the waterproofing membrane.

According to one embodiment, the retaining element is a plate, for example annular, which has an orifice threaded onto the stud.

According to one embodiment, the insulating cap comprises an internal plate which is flush with the internal support surface of the sealing membrane.

According to one embodiment, the internal plate of the insulating plug is made of plywood or composite.

According to one embodiment, the internal plate of the insulating plug has a thickness of between 4 and 24 mm. Indeed, the thickness can typically be a function of the presence or absence of a node, at the crossing between two undulations of the primary membrane, placed in contact with the internal plate. The thickness is, for example, 4 to 12 mm in the absence of a knot and 9 to 24 mm in the presence of a knot.

According to one embodiment, the layer of polymer foam of the insulating plug has a density identical to that of the layer of polymer foam of the insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, the polymer foam layer of the insulating plug has a density of between 80 and 210 kg/m ³ .

According to one embodiment, the thermally insulating barrier comprises a support element which is arranged between the fixing member and the insulating plug, the support element being in abutment, in a direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier, towards the supporting structure, the support zone of the layer of polymeric foam resting against a zone of the support element at least partially covering the fixing member.

According to one embodiment, the support element bears, in the direction of the supporting structure, against the anchoring device.

According to one embodiment, the support element comprises an outer plate against which the support zone of the layer of polymer foam bears and an additional fixing member which is fixed to the outer plate and is fixed to the stud.

According to one embodiment, the outer plate of the support element is a metal plate and the additional fixing member is a nut welded to the metal plate.

According to one embodiment, the outer plate of the support element is glued to the support zone.

According to one embodiment, the insulating plug as well as the corresponding housing have the shape of a cylinder of revolution whose axis corresponds to a central axis of the stud.

According to one embodiment, the support element is a spacer which has an outer surface bearing against the retaining element and an inner surface against which the support zone of the layer of polymer foam is bearing, the spacer having a recess made in its outer surface and in which the fixing member is housed.

According to one embodiment, the spacer is made of a material chosen from plastics and plywood.

According to one embodiment, the spacer has a hole opening into the recess and in which one end of the stud is housed.

According to one embodiment, the retaining element has a counterbore in which the fixing member is embedded and a peripheral portion which exerts the force on the support zone, the fixing member being flush with the peripheral portion so that the support zone of the layer of polymeric foam rests against both the fixing member and the peripheral portion of the retaining element.

According to one embodiment, the housing is formed by at least two recesses which are made at the edge of at least two adjacent insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, the housing is formed by at least four recesses which are formed in the corners of four adjacent insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a vessel wall comprising a thermally insulating barrier mentioned above and a sealing membrane which rests against the thermally insulating barrier and is intended to be in contact with the fluid stored in the vessel.

According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising an aforementioned wall.

A tank according to one of the aforementioned embodiments can be part of an onshore storage installation, for example for storing LNG or be installed in a floating, coastal or deep-water structure, in particular an ethane or LNG carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended to receive liquefied natural gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.

According to one embodiment, a vessel for transporting a fluid comprises a hull, such as a double hull, and a aforementioned tank disposed in the hull.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a ship, in which a fluid is routed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation to or from the tank of the ship.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or terrestrial storage installation and a pump for driving a flow of fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or onshore storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.

Brief description of figures

The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation. , with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a cutaway perspective representation of a wall of a sealed and thermally insulating tank.

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of an insulating plug housed inside a housing of the thermally insulating barrier according to a first embodiment.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the insulating cap of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of an insulating plug housed inside a housing of the thermally insulating barrier according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an insulating plug housed inside a housing of the thermally insulating barrier according to a third embodiment.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the insulating cap of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the spacer of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a schematic top view of Figure 2 illustrating the surface S of the support area by which the insulating plug is supported, the surface S1 of the section of the housing and the surface S2 corresponding to the size of the 'nut.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway schematic representation of a ship comprising a liquefied natural gas storage tank and a loading/unloading terminal for this tank.

By convention, the terms “external” and “internal” are used to define the relative position of one element in relation to another, by reference to the exterior and the interior of the tank.

In Figure 1, there is shown the multilayer structure of a wall 1 of a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Each wall 1 of the tank comprises successively, in the direction of the thickness, from the outside towards the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 3 retained on the supporting structure 2, a secondary sealing membrane 4 resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 3, a primary thermally insulating barrier 5 resting against the secondary sealing membrane 4 and a primary sealing membrane 6 intended to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank.

The load-bearing structure 2 may in particular comprise self-supporting metal sheets or, more generally, any type of rigid partitions having appropriate mechanical properties. The load-bearing structure 2 can in particular be formed by the hull or the double hull of a ship. The support structure 2 comprises a plurality of walls defining the general shape of the tank, usually a polyhedral shape.

The secondary thermally insulating barrier 3 comprises a plurality of secondary insulating panels 7 anchored to the supporting structure 2 by means of resin cords and studs welded to the supporting structure 2. The secondary insulating panels 7 have substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and are juxtaposed in parallel rows and separated from each other by interstices guaranteeing a functional mounting clearance. The interstices are filled with a heat-insulating filling such as glass wool, rock wool or flexible synthetic foam with open cells, for example. The secondary insulating panels 7 each comprise a layer of polymer foam 8 sandwiched between an internal plate 9 and an external plate 10. The internal 9 and external 10 plates are, for example, plywood plates glued to said layer of foam. polymer 8. The polymer foam 8 may in particular be a polyurethane-based foam, optionally reinforced with fibers, such as glass fibers for example.

In the embodiment shown, the secondary sealing membrane 4 comprises a continuous layer of strakes, metallic, with raised edges. The strakes are welded by their raised edges to parallel welding supports which are fixed in the grooves provided on the internal plates 9 of the secondary insulating panels 7. The strakes are, for example, made of Invar ®: that is to say say an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 1.2.10 ^-6 and 2.10 ^-6 K ^-1 .

According to another embodiment, not shown, the secondary sealing membrane 4 comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets each having a substantially rectangular shape which are welded to each other overlapping. In addition, the corrugated metal sheets are welded to metal plates which are fixed to the internal plate 9 of the secondary insulating panels 7. internal 9 of the secondary insulating panels 7.

Furthermore, the primary thermally insulating barrier 5 comprises a plurality of primary insulating panels 11 of substantially rectangular parallelepipedic shape. The primary insulating panels 11 are offset here with respect to the secondary insulating panels 7 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 3 so that each primary insulating panel 11 is staggered on four secondary insulating panels 7. The primary insulating panels 11 are fixed on the secondary insulating panels 7 by means of anchoring devices 12 which will be described later.

In the illustrated embodiment, each primary insulating panel 11 has a layer of polymer foam 13 sandwiched between two rigid plates, namely an outer plate 15 and an inner plate 14. The outer 15 and inner 14 plates are for example made of plywood. The layer of polymer foam 13 is for example polyurethane foam, optionally reinforced with fibers, such as glass fibers.

The primary waterproofing membrane 6 is obtained by assembling a plurality of corrugated metal sheets. The corrugated metal sheets each have a substantially rectangular shape. The corrugations protrude inward from the tank. The corrugated metal sheets of the primary waterproofing membrane 6 are arranged offset from the primary insulating panels 11 such that each of said corrugated metal sheets extends jointly over four adjacent primary insulating panels 11. The corrugated metal sheets are overlap welded together and are further welded along their edges to metal plates which are fixed to the primary insulating panels 11 and more particularly to their internal plate 14. The internal plates 14 of the primary insulating panels 11 define the internal support surface of the primary sealing membrane 6.

As shown in Figure 1, each primary insulating panel 11 has a recess 16 at each of its corners. Each recess 16 passes through the inner plate 14 and extends over the entire thickness of the layer of polymer foam 13. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 2, at each of the recesses 16, the outer plate 15 projects beyond the polymer foam layer 13 and the inner plate 14 so as to form a support zone 17 cooperating with an anchoring device 12, described later. Each recess 16 formed in the corner of one of the primary insulating panels 11 is arranged opposite the recesses 16 formed in the corner of the three adjacent primary insulating panels 11 so that the four recesses together define a housing 18 in the barrier thermally insulating primary 5. Thus, a single anchoring device 12 arranged in said housing 18 can cooperate with four support zones 17 belonging respectively to four adjacent primary insulating panels 11 .

In the embodiment shown, a wedge 19, for example made of plywood, is fixed to the support zone 17 of each primary insulating panel 11 so as to reinforce it.

In the embodiment shown, each housing 18 is formed by several recesses 16 made at the corners of the primary insulating panels 11. However, in other embodiments not shown, each housing 18 can be directly made either at the level of the edges of the primary insulating panels 11, nor at their corners, and therefore be provided through the polymer foam layer 13 of a single primary insulating panel 11.

In the embodiment shown, each anchoring device 12 comprises a stud 20 which protrudes from a metal plate, not shown, which is fixed to the internal plate 9 of one of the secondary insulating panels 7. The studs 20 each pass through an orifice formed in the secondary sealing membrane 4. In addition, the secondary sealing membrane 4 is welded in a leaktight manner to the metal plate all around the orifice so as to ensure sealing the passage of the studs 20 through the secondary sealing membrane 4.

As shown in Figure 2, each anchoring device 12 comprises a retaining element 21 which is fixed to each of the studs 20 and which bears against the bearing zones 17 of each of the four adjacent primary insulating panels 11, here via the wedges 19. Furthermore, a fixing member, such as a nut 22 cooperates with a thread of the stud 20 and bears against the internal face of the retaining element 21 so that the element retainer 21 is fixed on the pin 20 and thus exerts a retaining force against the support zones 17.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the retaining element 21 is an annular plate which has an orifice threaded onto the pin 20.

In addition, in embodiments not shown, one or more elastic washers, such as Belleville washers are threaded onto the stud 20, between the nut 22 and the retaining element 21, which makes it possible to ensure a elastic anchoring of the primary insulating panels 11 on the secondary insulating panels 7.

The insulating cap 25, shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a layer of insulating polymer foam 23 and, advantageously, an internal plate 24, for example made of plywood or composite material which is flush with the internal plate 14 of the primary insulating panels 11 adjacent. The insulating plug 25 rests on an outer plate 26. The outer plate 26 is a metal plate, for example stainless steel, on which is welded a nut 27 which is screwed onto the threaded end of the stud 20. Thus, the outer plate 26 distributes the forces exerted on the insulating plug 25 under the effect of the dynamic and hydrostatic pressures exerted by the liquid contained in the tank on the primary sealing membrane 6 and transmits the forces to the anchoring device 12 and more particularly to the stud 20. Thanks to such an arrangement, it is possible to adjust the position of the insulating plug 25 so as to ensure the flatness of the support surface of the membrane by screwing the nut 22 more or less on the stud 20 threaded.

Figure 8 is a schematic top view of Figure 2 and illustrates:
- the surface S1 (hatched) of the section of the housing 18,
- the surface S2 (covered with dots) which corresponds to the size of a nut 22 having a diameter d2; And
- the surface S (covered with +) which corresponds to the surface of the layer of polymer foam 23 which is in contact against the outer plate 26 and through which passes the compression forces, in particular under the effect of the dynamic and hydrostatic pressures exerted by the liquid contained in the tank on the primary sealing membrane 6.

It is observed, in Figure 8, that the arrangement of Figure 2 is advantageous compared to the arrangements of the state of the art in that it makes it possible to obtain that the surface S is greater than the subtraction S1 - S2 .

According to one embodiment, the insulating plug 25, shown in Figure 2, is glued to the outer plate. Advantageously, in such an embodiment, the insulating plug 25 as well as the corresponding housing 18 have the shape of a cylinder of revolution whose axis corresponds to the axis of the threaded stud 20. This is likely to allow the rotation of the insulating plug 25 inside the housing 18 during screwing while limiting the clearances between the insulating plug 25 and the walls of the housing 18 because these clearances are likely to generate convection phenomena.

According to one embodiment, the insulating plug 25 is mounted by force inside the housing 18, that is to say is compressed radially in the housing 18, which makes it possible to avoid the phenomena of convection between the walls housing 18 and insulating cap 25.

According to another embodiment, the insulating plug 25 is not glued to the external plate 26. In this case, the external plate 26 is, initially, fixed by screwing on the stud 20 then, in a second time , the insulating plug 25 is inserted into the housing 18 and positioned in abutment against the outer plate 26.

According to another embodiment, the insulating plug 25 is glued to the outer plate 26 in prefabrication. In this case, the insulating plug assembly 25 and the external plate 26 are fixed by gluing on the nut 27 in order to fix the assembly and to block the rotation of the nut 27, in particular if the latter is not a split nut, to prevent loosening of nut 27 from stud 20.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the retaining element 21 of the anchoring device 12 has a counterbore 28 in which the nut 22 is embedded. The retaining element 21 also has a peripheral portion 29 which extends orthogonally to the thickness direction. The depth of the counterbore 28 corresponds to the height of the nut 22 such that the nut 22 is flush with the peripheral portion 29 of the retaining element 21.

The insulating plug 25 comprises an internal plate 24 which is flush with the internal plates 14 of the adjacent primary insulating panels 11 and a layer of polymer foam 25. The internal end of the layer of polymer foam 25 has a blind hole 30 which makes it possible to accommodate the end of the stud 20. Furthermore, insofar as the nut 22 is flush with the peripheral portion 29 of the retaining element 21, the insulating plug 25 bears both against the nut 22 and against the peripheral portion 29 of the retaining element 21 which also makes it possible to obtain a support surface for the insulating cap 25 which is not truncated by the entire surface corresponding to the section of the nut 22.

Figures 5 to 7 illustrate a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the anchoring device 12 is equipped with a spacer 31 which is inserted between the retaining element 21 and the insulating plug 25. The spacer 31 has an outer surface bearing against the retaining element. retainer 21 and an inner surface against which the insulating plug 25 rests. The spacer 31 has a recess 32 formed in the outer surface of said spacer 31 and in which is housed the nut 22 of the anchoring device 12. Thus, the internal surface of the spacer 31 covers the nut 22, so that the support surface of the insulating cap 25 is not truncated by the section of the nut 22 either.

The spacer 31 also has a hole 33 which opens into the recess 32 and through which the end of the pin 20 passes. In the embodiment shown, the hole 33 is open. The inner end of the layer of polymer foam 23 also has a blind hole 34 which is made opposite the hole 33 and which thus makes it possible to accommodate the end of the stud 20.

In another embodiment not shown, the hole 33 formed in the spacer 31 is blind. The layer of polymer foam 23 of the insulating plug 25 then does not have a hole to accommodate the end of the stud 20. This makes it possible to further increase the support surface of the insulating plug 25 against the internal surface of the spacer 31.

The spacer 31 is, for example, made of plastic material or plywood.

According to a variant embodiment, there are spacers 31 of different thicknesses and the spacer 31 having the dimensions suitable for adjusting the position of the insulating cap 25 according to the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier and ensuring the flatness of the support surface.

Referring to Figure 9, a cutaway view of an LNG carrier 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary membrane intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary membrane arranged between the primary membrane and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary membrane and the secondary membrane and between the secondary membrane and the double shell 72.

In a manner known per se, loading/unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

FIG. 9 also represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76 and an installation on land 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed off-shore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading/unloading pipes 73. The adjustable movable arm 74 adapts to all sizes of LNG carriers. A connecting pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the shore installation 77. This comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75. The underwater pipe 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the shore installation 77 over a great distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and/or pumps fitted to the shore installation 77 and/or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

The use of the verb "to comprise", "to understand" or "to include" and of its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims (15)

Thermally insulating barrier (5) for a wall (1) of a sealed and thermally insulating tank fixed to a supporting structure (2), the thermally insulating barrier (5) comprising:
- insulating panels (11) defining an internal support surface for a sealing membrane (6), the insulating panels (11) each comprising an internal plate (14), an external plate (15) and a layer of foam polymer (13) which is disposed between the inner plate (14) and the outer plate (15); the insulating panels (11) having at least one housing (18) which opens at the level of the said internal support surface of the sealing membrane (6) and which provides at the level of the external plate (15) with at least l one of the insulating panels (11), a support zone (17);
- an anchoring device (12) which is arranged inside the housing (18), the anchoring device (12) comprising a pin (20) fixed directly or indirectly to the supporting structure (2), an element retainer (21) which exerts a force on the bearing zone (17) and a fixing member (22) which is fixed to the pin (20) and which holds the retaining element (21) bearing towards the support area (17); And
- an insulating plug (25) which is housed inside the housing (18) and has an internal surface flush with the internal support surface of the sealing membrane (6), the insulating plug (25) comprising a layer of polymer foam (23) which has a support zone through which said insulating plug (25) bears, along a direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier (5), in the direction of the supporting structure (2), the zone of support having, in projection in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thickness, a surface S which is greater than the subtraction S1 - S2; with :
S1: a surface of a section of the housing (18), in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thickness, at the support zone, and
S2: π*(d2/2) ² with d2 an overall diameter of the fixing member (22), in projection in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thickness. Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to claim 1, in which the fixing member is a nut (22) cooperating with a threaded end of the stud (20). Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to Claim 1 or 2, comprising a support element (26, 31) which is arranged between the fixing member (22) and the insulating plug (25), the support element (26 , 31) resting, along a direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier (5), in the direction of the load-bearing structure (2), the support zone of the layer of polymer foam (23) resting against a zone of the support element (26, 31) at least partially covering the fixing member (22). Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to Claim 3, in which the support element (26, 31) bears, in the direction of the supporting structure (2), against the anchoring device (12). Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to Claim 3 or 4, in which the support element comprises an outer plate (26) against which the support zone of the layer of polymeric foam (23) bears and a fixing member additional (27) which is fixed to the outer plate (26) and is fixed to the pin (20). Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to claim 5, in which the outer plate (26) of the support element is a metal plate and the additional fixing member (27) is a nut welded to the metal plate. Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to Claim 4, in which the support element is a spacer (31) which has an external surface which bears against the retaining element (21) and an internal surface against which the support zone of the layer of polymer foam (23) bears, the spacer (31) having a recess (32) made in its outer surface and in which the fixing member (22) is housed. Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to Claim 7, in which the spacer (31) is made of a material chosen from among plastics and plywood. Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the spacer (31) has a hole (33) opening into the recess (32) and in which one end of the stud (20) is housed. Thermally insulating barrier (5) according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, in which the retaining element (21) has a counterbore (28) in which the fixing member (22) is embedded and a peripheral portion ( 29) which exerts the force on the support zone (17), the fixing member (22) being flush with the peripheral portion (29) so that the support zone of the layer of polymer foam (23) rests at both against the fixing member (22) and the peripheral portion (29) of the retaining element (21). Vessel wall comprising a thermally insulating barrier (5) according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 and a sealing membrane (6) which rests against the thermally insulating barrier (5) and is intended to be in contact with the fluid stored in the tank. Sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising a wall according to claim 11. Vessel (70) for the transport of a fluid, the vessel comprising a hull (72) and a tank (71) according to claim 12 disposed in the hull. Transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising a ship (70) according to claim 13, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull of the ship to a floating or onshore storage facility (77) and a pump for driving fluid through the insulated pipelines from or to the floating or onshore storage facility to or from the vessel's tank. Method of loading or unloading a ship (70) according to claim 13, in which a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation (77) to or from the ship's tank (71).