WO2025056853A1 - Storage system and method for storing fluids comprising access means for performing maintenance operations - Google Patents
Storage system and method for storing fluids comprising access means for performing maintenance operations Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2025056853A1 WO2025056853A1 PCT/FR2024/051182 FR2024051182W WO2025056853A1 WO 2025056853 A1 WO2025056853 A1 WO 2025056853A1 FR 2024051182 W FR2024051182 W FR 2024051182W WO 2025056853 A1 WO2025056853 A1 WO 2025056853A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- recess
- tank
- access
- storage system
- support element
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C1/00—Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge
- F17C1/007—Underground or underwater storage
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
- F17C2201/01—Shape
- F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
- F17C2201/0119—Shape cylindrical with flat end-piece
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
- F17C2201/01—Shape
- F17C2201/0138—Shape tubular
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
- F17C2201/03—Orientation
- F17C2201/032—Orientation with substantially vertical main axis
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
- F17C2201/05—Size
- F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
- F17C2201/05—Size
- F17C2201/054—Size medium (>1 m3)
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
- F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
- F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
- F17C2203/0678—Concrete
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
- F17C2205/0103—Exterior arrangements
- F17C2205/0111—Boxes
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
- F17C2205/0123—Mounting arrangements characterised by number of vessels
- F17C2205/013—Two or more vessels
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
- F17C2205/0153—Details of mounting arrangements
- F17C2205/0176—Details of mounting arrangements with ventilation
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
- F17C2205/0153—Details of mounting arrangements
- F17C2205/0188—Hanging up devices
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
- F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
- F17C2205/0311—Closure means
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
- F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
- F17C2205/0323—Valves
- F17C2205/0332—Safety valves or pressure relief valves
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
- F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
- F17C2209/221—Welding
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
- F17C2209/23—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations
- F17C2209/234—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations of closing end pieces, e.g. caps
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
- F17C2221/011—Oxygen
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
- F17C2221/012—Hydrogen
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
- F17C2221/014—Nitrogen
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/03—Mixtures
- F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
- F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
- F17C2223/0107—Single phase
- F17C2223/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
- F17C2223/036—Very high pressure (>80 bar)
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
- F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
- F17C2250/043—Pressure
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
- F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
- F17C2250/0439—Temperature
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
- F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
- F17C2260/015—Facilitating maintenance
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
- F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
- F17C2260/017—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing by calculation
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
- F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
- F17C2260/035—Dealing with losses of fluid
- F17C2260/037—Handling leaked fluid
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
- F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
- F17C2260/035—Dealing with losses of fluid
- F17C2260/038—Detecting leaked fluid
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
- F17C2260/04—Reducing risks and environmental impact
- F17C2260/042—Reducing risk of explosion
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- 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
- F17C2270/00—Applications
- F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
- F17C2270/0142—Applications for fluid transport or storage placed underground
- F17C2270/0144—Type of cavity
- F17C2270/0147—Type of cavity by burying vessels
Definitions
- TITLE STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING FLUIDS INCLUDING ACCESS MEANS FOR CARRYING OUT MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
- the present invention relates to underground storage and in particular the storage of fluids, for example hydrogen or oxygen. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of maintenance of a fluid storage system and, in particular, of a high-pressure fluid storage system, i.e. for pressures which may be between 100 bar and 1200 bar, more particularly between 200 bar and 500 bar.
- the invention also relates to a method for underground storage of fluids.
- a fluid storage system must be checked regularly, especially when the fluid presents significant risks, including explosion or fire.
- Maintenance operations therefore require different access points that are not easy to arrange when the storage system to be inspected is compact and/or installed at depths of up to several tens or hundreds of meters.
- certain maintenance operations such as the replacement of certain tank components with a limited lifespan, are complex to implement.
- the invention aims to propose a solution ranging from inspection to replacement of the components of a fluid storage system, by optimizing the ease of access to the tanks and/or the recess.
- the invention also aims to optimize the replacement rate of certain components of the tank linked to wear. More particularly, the invention also aims to optimize the service life of the sensitive components of the storage tank and consequently to limit the handling necessary for the replacement of said sensitive components.
- the invention relates to an underground storage system for storing fluids.
- the system comprises a recess arranged in a ground, said recess having a bottom, a support element comprising at least one opening, at least one reservoir, said reservoir having a longitudinal axis, a lower end closed by a first closing means, and an upper end closed by a second closing means.
- the upper end comprises a support piece, said upper end being assembled to the support element by means of the support piece so that the reservoir is suspended inside the recess.
- the storage system also comprises means of access from outside the recess comprising at least one of means of access to each reservoir, means of access to the interior of the reservoirs, and means of access to the contents of the recess.
- the means of access to each tank include a passage provided on the periphery of the support element.
- this passage surrounds the support element. In other words, this passage is then formed around the support element. According to one embodiment, this passage is provided on an upper surface of the support element, for example on a collar forming the external contour of the support element. Providing the passage on such a collar ensures the presence of a lower collar surface sufficient to allow the support element to rest reliably on the ground surface while providing an upper collar surface free of any obstacle since there is no opening for the tanks.
- this passage may be jointly formed around and on the upper surface of the support member.
- the means of access to each tank comprise a corridor located on the support element.
- a corridor advantageously allows access from the support element to one or more tanks not accessible from the passage provided on the periphery of the support element.
- Such a passage or corridor are surfaces free of obstacles and allowing an operator to move around to have direct access to the tanks located along said free surfaces.
- the operator can directly access a tank in order to directly manipulate the first closing means.
- the means of access to the interior of the tanks comprise a sacrificial emergency part inserted between the first closing means and the support part.
- the sacrificial backup part is removable.
- this sacrificial backup part can be removed from the tank to access the interior of the tank.
- this sacrificial backup part constitutes an easily replaceable element, for example after three screwing/unscrewing with the closing means during maintenance operations, allowing the support part to have a longer life expectancy.
- the means of access to the interior of the tanks comprise a plurality of sacrificial emergency parts interposed between the first closing means and the part removably supported, each sacrificial spare part increasing the durability of the support part
- the means for accessing the contents of the recess comprise at least one fluid and/or solid suction pipe and at least one fluid and/or solid injection pipe.
- the injection pipe makes it possible to inject a fluid and/or a solid into the recess, typically so as to surround the reservoir(s) inserted into the recess with said fluid and/or solid.
- the pumping pipe makes it possible to remove said fluid and/or solid from the recess so as to allow the pumping and circulation of the fluid and/or solid present at the bottom of the recess.
- the means of access to the contents of the recess comprise a room outside the recess, the injection and/or suction pipes opening out and/or being controlled from this room outside the recess.
- the tank comprises at least one metal tube, said metal tube having at least one termination provided with at least one threaded portion.
- the tank consists of at least two metal tubes assembled by screwing, so as to form a column of tubes.
- the support piece comprises a lower threaded portion.
- the metal tube or column and the support piece are assembled by screwing a threaded portion of said or one of said metal tubes forming the column and the lower threaded portion of the support piece.
- the reservoir is suspended inside the recess so that an axial clearance capable of absorbing axial thermal expansion of the reservoir remains between the first means for closing the reservoir and the bottom of the recess.
- the axial clearance capable of absorbing axial thermal expansion of the tank complies with the following inequality:
- G is the length of the axial clearance expressed in meters
- L represents the length of a tank expressed in meters between the support element and the lower end of the tank
- P represents the geothermal gradient of the ground expressed in degrees Celsius per meter
- a represents the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal in which the tank is made expressed in meters per degree Celsius.
- the support piece has an upper threaded portion and the sacrificial backup piece is tightly mounted on the support piece by screwing onto said upper threaded portion.
- the first closure means and/or the second closure means is capable of sealing the tank by screwing.
- the first closure means is screwed onto an upper threaded portion of the sacrificial spare part.
- the storage system comprises a plurality of tanks, each tank having a longitudinal axis, a lower end and an upper end, said upper end of each tank being adapted to be assembled to the support element by means of a respective support part so that each tank is suspended inside the recess.
- the recess comprises at least one casing, said casing being made of concrete, cement, or steel.
- the invention also relates to an underground storage method for storing fluids via a storage system as described above.
- the method comprises at least the following steps: providing a recess in a ground, said recess having a bottom, providing a support element comprising at least one opening capable of receiving a support part, providing at least one tank, said tank having a longitudinal axis, a lower end and a lower end upper end, said upper end comprising the support piece, providing a first closing means adapted to close said reservoir at its lower end, and a second closing means adapted to close the reservoir at its upper end, assembling said upper end to the support element by means of the support piece so that the reservoir is suspended inside the recess, and providing means of access from outside the recess comprising at least one of means of access to each reservoir, means of access to the interior of the reservoirs, and means of access to the contents of the recess.
- lower end of the tank means the end of the tank which is located near the bottom of the recess. This "lower end” is defined in contrast to the so-called “upper end” of the tank, which is located near the support element and therefore the ground surface.
- Axial clearance means a length, which extends along the longitudinal axis of the tank, measured between the first closure means of the tank, which is proximal to the bottom of the recess, and the bottom of the recess. Note that the position of a tank may not be perfectly vertical. In this case, the longitudinal axis of the tank has an angle with respect to the vertical in the (x; y) reference frame. This angle has a maximum value of 15°. In this case, the measurement of the axial clearance is done by orthogonal projection on the vertical axis passing through a point of the first closure means located closest to the bottom of the recess. In other words, the axial clearance always corresponds to the shortest distance, measured between the bottom of the recess and the first closure means.
- threaded metal tube means a tube comprising at least one termination having at least one threaded portion, capable of being assembled to another element, for example another threaded metal tube, a closing means or even a support part, comprising at least one termination having at least one complementary threaded portion.
- the thread may be male or female.
- bottom of the recess means the surface of the bottom of the recess.
- bottom of the recess designates the surface of the cement layer at the bottom of the recess.
- bottom of the recess simply designates the surface of the ground in which the recess is formed, located at the bottom of the recess.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the general structure of an underground storage system
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the support element of an underground storage system
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the support element of an underground storage system comprising a corridor according to one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the upper end of a reservoir contained in an underground storage system according to one embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a storage system 1 , in a (x; y) frame.
- the x axis of the (x; y) frame is a horizontal axis
- the y axis of the (x; y) frame is a vertical axis corresponding to the Earth's gravity axis.
- the storage system 1 comprises a recess 2 made in a ground 3, a support element 4 placed on a surface of a ground S of the ground 3, means of access from outside the recess (2), and six tanks 5 suspended from the support element 4 in the recess 2 (only four tanks 5 are visible in FIG. 1). According to the embodiments, the storage system 1 comprises at least one tank 5.
- the recess 2 has a bottom 6 and comprises a casing 7.
- the recess 2 can be obtained by drilling or by excavation.
- the recess 2 is of substantially circular cylindrical shape and has, for example, an average diameter of four meters.
- the casing 7 is made of cement and extends vertically from the surface of the ground S to the bottom 6 of the recess 2.
- the support element 4 is a circular cylindrical plate having a central body 19 and a flange 20, said flange 20 having a lower surface resting on the ground S.
- the central body 19 has a first thickness and the flange has a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.
- the support element 4 further comprises an upper surface, said upper surface being opposite the lower surface of the flange 20.
- the support element 4 also comprises six openings 8.
- the openings 8 are holes passing through the first thickness and opening onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the central body 19 of the support element 4.
- the support element 4 comprises at least one opening 8.
- these openings 8 are cylindrical and have a generatrix perpendicular to the upper surface and to the lower surface.
- Each reservoir 5 may comprise a plurality of tubes A.
- the reservoirs 5 comprise several threaded tubes A.
- the tubes A are assembled by screwing so as to form a column C of tubes A.
- These tubes A and therefore the column C have a section of dimension smaller than the section of the opening 8 intended to receive the reservoir 5 comprising the tube or the column C so that the tube A or the column C of said reservoir 5 can be inserted or removed from the recess 2 through the opening 8.
- the tanks 5 are generally tubular in shape, with a circular section, and each have a longitudinal axis, a lower end 13 and an upper end 14.
- Each tank 5 is closed at its lower end 13 by a first closing means 12, and each tank 5 is closed at its upper end 14 by a second closing means 15.
- the lower end 13 and the upper end 14 of each tank 5 have a thread onto which the first closing means 12 and the second closing means 15 are screwed in a sealed manner respectively.
- the lower end 13 is closed in a sealed manner by screwing the first closing means 12, and the upper end 14 is closed in a sealed manner by screwing the second closing means 15.
- each tank 5 is formed by an assembly comprising a column C, and is closed at its ends 13, 14 by closing means 12, 15.
- a tank 5 can also comprise a single tube A, and be closed at its ends 13 and 14 by closing means 12 and 15.
- the upper end of the tanks 5 comprises a support piece 17 interposed between the tube A, or the column C, and the second closing means 15. This support piece 17 cooperates with the support element 4 to suspend the tank 5 in the recess 2.
- the means of access are intended to enable maintenance operations to be carried out by allowing access to the various elements of the installation from the outside. They comprise in particular at least one of means of access for each tank 5, means of access to the interior of each tank 5, and means of access to the contents of the recess 2.
- a first means of access to the tanks comprises a passage provided on the periphery of the support element 4.
- This passage is for example formed around the support element 4 and/or on the upper face of the collar 20.
- a passage allows an operator wishing to carry out a maintenance operation on a tank 5 located on the periphery of the support element 4 to have access to said tank 5 simply by moving around the periphery of the support element 4.
- Such a passage around the support element 4 can be made in the ground 3 surrounding the collar 20, for example on the surface S if the support element 4 rests on the ground S or on the bottom of a cavity (not shown) formed in the ground 3 and on which the support element 4 rests.
- the means of access to each tank 5 therefore comprise a second means of access to the tanks 5 in the form of a corridor 9, as illustrated in FIG. 3, extending radially around the central point of the support element 4.
- corridors 9 facilitating access to each tank 5.
- Each tank 5 must be accessible by at least one operator and the configuration of the support element 4 must therefore allow access to each tank 5.
- Maximum compactness of the tanks is also preferred to optimize the number of tanks 5 in an installation. For this, the following equation defines the optimal level of compactness: [Math 2]
- ODsj the external diameter of the tank 5 and Am the area necessary to access the tanks 5 from the support element 4.
- Am is defined by considering a corridor 9 with a width between 0.6 meters and 1 meter. Access to the tanks 5 located at the end of the support element 4 is done directly from the outside of the support element 4 via the ad hoc passage.
- the storage system 1 comprises about fifty tanks 5 and, consequently, the support element 4 comprises about fifty openings 8, each tank 5 being suspended in the recess 2 via a respective opening 8 of the support element 4.
- This configuration is circular and contains a maintenance corridor 9 leaving two rows of tanks 5 on its radially external part and a row of seven tanks 5 on its radially internal part.
- the outer row of tanks 5 is accessible from the passage provided on the periphery of the support element 4, and the inner and central rows of tanks 5 are accessible from the circular corridor 9 on the support element 4.
- the tanks 5 are spaced on at least part of the two outer rows, to create an entrance 10 opening onto the corridor 9.
- the support element 4 as well as the recess 2 can be of several shapes, for example circular or polygonal.
- a circular area of the support element 4 is defined as follows: [Math 3]
- a polygonal area of the support element 4 is defined as follows: [Math 4]
- the tanks 5 can be arranged on the support element 4 along a horizontal, vertical, offset line, aligned with a circle or any other geometric shape, and the tanks 5 can have different dimensions from each other.
- the tanks 5 are suspended from the support element 4.
- an axial clearance G remains between, on the one hand, the first closing means 12 which closes the lower end 13 of the tank 5, and on the other hand, the bottom 6 of the recess 2.
- This axial clearance G has the function of absorbing an axial thermal expansion of the tank 5, which occurs in particular during filling and emptying operations.
- the dimensioning of the axial clearance G depends directly on the surrounding conditions of the storage system 1, in particular the temperature and pressure conditions, and the capacity of the tank 5 to elongate when it is subjected to variations in temperature and pressure, in particular during filling and emptying operations.
- the axial clearance G of any tank 5 of the storage system 1 responds to the following inequality:
- G is the length of the axial clearance expressed in meters.
- L represents the length of a reservoir 5 expressed in meters.
- P represents the geothermal gradient of the ground 3 expressed in degrees Celsius per meter.
- the geothermal gradient P varies according to the geological formation in which the storage system 1 is placed.
- P is such that 0.02°/m ⁇ P ⁇ 2°/m.
- a represents the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal in which the reservoir 5 is made expressed in degrees Celsius - 1.
- the coefficient of thermal expansion a varies according to the type of metal that makes up the tubes used to form a reservoir 5.
- a is such that 8 * 10-6 °C - 1 ⁇ a ⁇ 18 * 10-6 °C - 1.
- each tank 5 comprise a sacrificial emergency part 16.
- This sacrificial emergency part 16, the support part 17 and the second closing means 15 together form the upper end 14 of the tank 5.
- the upper end 14 is shown in FIG. 4.
- the support part 17 comprises a metallic tubular body 21, of circular section, having a collar 22.
- a periphery of this collar 22 has dimensions greater than the dimensions of the opening 8 so that it rests on the upper surface of the support element 4 when the tank 5 is inserted into the opening 8. The collar 22 is thus able to suspend the tank 5 in the recess 2 via the support element 4.
- the reservoir 5 does not need to be fixed to the support element 4, which simplifies the assembly of the storage system 1. It is however possible, as a variant, to fix the collar 22 to the support element 4 for example by screwing screws or any other suitable means.
- the support piece 17 is tightly assembled at its lower end to the tube A or to the column C by screwing.
- the support piece 17 is assembled at its upper end to the sacrificial emergency piece 16, and the sacrificial emergency piece 16 is assembled to the second closing means 15.
- These assemblies are made with threaded connections composed of at least one seal.
- the maintenance operations inside the tank 5 are carried out via the second closing means 15 and/or via the sacrificial emergency part 16.
- the second closing means 15 and/or the sacrificial emergency part 16 can be unscrewed and detached from the support part 17 in order to access the contents of the tank 5, for example to inspect the state of the inside of the tank 5.
- the screwing/unscrewing carried out during the maintenance operations causes damage to the parts which must be changed after a few manipulations.
- the screwing/unscrewing of the parts is preferably limited to three operations. Indeed, after three screwing/unscrewing operations of the second closure means 15, the seal at the second closure means 15 does not guarantee the sealing of the tank 5 with certainty. It is then necessary to replace the parts cooperating to form this seal.
- the use of a sacrificial spare part 16 allows up to nine operations on the tank 5 without having to change the support part 17. Since replacing the support part 17 involves the complete removal of the tank 5 from the recess 2, additional work time and other commitments, the sacrificial spare part 16 makes it possible to improve the practicality of use of the storage system 1 and to facilitate maintenance operations.
- the upper end 14 of the tank 5 may comprise more than one sacrificial spare part 16, making it possible to further increase the number of maintenance operations without having to remove the entire tank 5 from the well 2.
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Abstract
Description
DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION
TITRE : SYSTEME ET PROCEDE DE STOCKAGE POUR LE STOCKAGE DE FLUIDES COMPRENANT DES MOYENS D’ACCES POUR LA MISE EN ŒUVRE D’OPERATIONS DE MAINTENANCE TITLE: STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING FLUIDS INCLUDING ACCESS MEANS FOR CARRYING OUT MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
Domaine technique Technical field
La présente invention concerne le stockage souterrain et notamment le stockage de fluides, par exemple d’hydrogène ou d’oxygène. Plus particulièrement, l’invention se rapporte au domaine de la maintenance d’un système de stockage de fluides et, en particulier, d’un système de stockage de fluides à hautes pressions, c ’ est-à-dire pour des pressions pouvant être comprises entre 100 bar et 1200 bar, plus particulièrement entre 200 bar et 500 bar. The present invention relates to underground storage and in particular the storage of fluids, for example hydrogen or oxygen. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of maintenance of a fluid storage system and, in particular, of a high-pressure fluid storage system, i.e. for pressures which may be between 100 bar and 1200 bar, more particularly between 200 bar and 500 bar.
L ’invention se rapporte également à un procédé de stockage souterrain de fluides. The invention also relates to a method for underground storage of fluids.
Un système de stockage de fluide doit être régulièrement vérifié, en particulier lorsque le fluide présente des risques importants, notamment d’ explosion ou d’incendie. A fluid storage system must be checked regularly, especially when the fluid presents significant risks, including explosion or fire.
Dans une installation souterraine de stockage de fluides présentant des risques d’ explosion ou d’incendie, différents niveaux de maintenance sont à prévoir. En effet, il s ’ agit de pouvoir entretenir le niveau supérieur du système de stockage, qui est éventuellement placé à l’ extérieur, les réservoirs du système de stockage, mais également l’ évidement dans lequel se trouvent les réservoirs. In an underground fluid storage facility that presents risks of explosion or fire, different levels of maintenance must be expected. This involves maintaining the upper level of the storage system, which may be located outside, the storage system's tanks, and also the recess in which the tanks are located.
Les opérations de maintenance nécessitent dès lors différents accès qui ne sont pas faciles à aménager lorsque le système de stockage à inspecter est compact et/ou installé à des profondeurs pouvant atteindre plusieurs dizaines ou centaines de mètres. En outre, certaines opérations de maintenance, comme le remplacement de certains composants du réservoir à durée de vie limitée, sont complexes à mettre en œuvre. Exposé de l’invention Maintenance operations therefore require different access points that are not easy to arrange when the storage system to be inspected is compact and/or installed at depths of up to several tens or hundreds of meters. In addition, certain maintenance operations, such as the replacement of certain tank components with a limited lifespan, are complex to implement. Statement of the invention
L ’invention a pour but de proposer une solution allant de l’inspection au remplacement des composants d’un système de stockage de fluides, en optimisant la facilité d’accès aux réservoirs et/ou à l’ évidement. L’invention a également pour but d’optimiser le taux de remplacement de certains composants du réservoir liés à l’usure. Plus particulièrement, l’invention a également pour but d’optimiser la durée de vie des composants sensibles du réservoir de stockage et par conséquence de limiter les manipulations nécessaires au remplacement desdits composants sensibles. The invention aims to propose a solution ranging from inspection to replacement of the components of a fluid storage system, by optimizing the ease of access to the tanks and/or the recess. The invention also aims to optimize the replacement rate of certain components of the tank linked to wear. More particularly, the invention also aims to optimize the service life of the sensitive components of the storage tank and consequently to limit the handling necessary for the replacement of said sensitive components.
L ’invention a pour objet un système de stockage souterrain pour le stockage de fluides. Le système comprend un évidement aménagé dans un terrain, ledit évidement présentant un fond, un élément de support comprenant au moins une ouverture, au moins un réservoir, ledit réservoir présentant un axe longitudinal, une extrémité inférieure fermée par un premier moyen de fermeture, et une extrémité supérieure fermée par un deuxième moyen de fermeture. L ’extrémité supérieure comporte une pièce de soutien, ladite extrémité supérieure étant assemblée à l’ élément de support par l’intermédiaire de la pièce de soutien de sorte que le réservoir soit suspendu à l’intérieur de l’ évidement. Le système de stockage comporte également des moyens d’ accès depuis l’ extérieur de l’ évidement comprenant au moins l’un parmi des moyens d’ accès à chaque réservoir, des moyens d’ accès à l’intérieur des réservoirs, et des moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’ évidement. The invention relates to an underground storage system for storing fluids. The system comprises a recess arranged in a ground, said recess having a bottom, a support element comprising at least one opening, at least one reservoir, said reservoir having a longitudinal axis, a lower end closed by a first closing means, and an upper end closed by a second closing means. The upper end comprises a support piece, said upper end being assembled to the support element by means of the support piece so that the reservoir is suspended inside the recess. The storage system also comprises means of access from outside the recess comprising at least one of means of access to each reservoir, means of access to the interior of the reservoirs, and means of access to the contents of the recess.
Avantageusement, les moyens d’ accès à chaque réservoir comportent un passage ménagé en périphérie de l’ élément de support. Advantageously, the means of access to each tank include a passage provided on the periphery of the support element.
Selon un mode de réalisation, ce passage entoure l’ élément de support. Autrement dit, ce passage est alors formé autour de l’ élément de support. Selon un mode de réalisation, ce passage est ménagé sur une surface supérieure de l’ élément de support, par exemple sur une collerette formant le contour externe de l’ élément de support. Ménager le passage sur une telle collerette assure la présence d’une surface inférieure de collerette suffisante pour permettre de faire reposer l’ élément de support sur la surface du sol de façon fiable tout en offrant une surface supérieure de collerette libre de tout obstacle puisque sans ouverture pour les réservoirs. According to one embodiment, this passage surrounds the support element. In other words, this passage is then formed around the support element. According to one embodiment, this passage is provided on an upper surface of the support element, for example on a collar forming the external contour of the support element. Providing the passage on such a collar ensures the presence of a lower collar surface sufficient to allow the support element to rest reliably on the ground surface while providing an upper collar surface free of any obstacle since there is no opening for the tanks.
Dans un mode de réalisation, ce passage peut être conjointement formé autour et sur la surface supérieure de l’ élément de support. In one embodiment, this passage may be jointly formed around and on the upper surface of the support member.
Avantageusement, les moyens d’ accès à chaque réservoir comprennent un couloir situé sur l’ élément de support. Un tel couloir permet avantageusement d’ accéder depuis l’ élément de support à un ou des réservoirs non accessibles depuis le passage ménagé en périphérie de l’ élément de support. Advantageously, the means of access to each tank comprise a corridor located on the support element. Such a corridor advantageously allows access from the support element to one or more tanks not accessible from the passage provided on the periphery of the support element.
Un tel passage ou un tel couloir sont des surfaces libres d’obstacles et permettant à un opérateur de circuler pour avoir directement accès aux réservoirs situés le long desdites surfaces libres. Typiquement, grâce à un tel passage ou un tel couloir, l’opérateur peut accéder directement à un réservoir afin de manipuler directement le premier moyen de fermeture. Such a passage or corridor are surfaces free of obstacles and allowing an operator to move around to have direct access to the tanks located along said free surfaces. Typically, thanks to such a passage or corridor, the operator can directly access a tank in order to directly manipulate the first closing means.
Les moyens d’ accès à l’intérieur des réservoirs comprennent une pièce de secours sacrificielle intercalée entre le premier moyen de fermeture et la pièce de soutien. The means of access to the interior of the tanks comprise a sacrificial emergency part inserted between the first closing means and the support part.
Avantageusement, la pièce de secours sacrificielle est amovible. Ainsi, cette pièce de secours sacrificielle peut être retirée du réservoir pour accéder à l’intérieur du réservoir. En outre, cette pièce de secours sacrificielle constitue un élément facilement remplaçable, par exemple après trois vissage/dévissage avec le moyen de fermeture durant les opérations de maintenance, permettant à la pièce de soutien d’ avoir une espérance de vie plus longue. Advantageously, the sacrificial backup part is removable. Thus, this sacrificial backup part can be removed from the tank to access the interior of the tank. In addition, this sacrificial backup part constitutes an easily replaceable element, for example after three screwing/unscrewing with the closing means during maintenance operations, allowing the support part to have a longer life expectancy.
Selon un mode de réalisation Les moyens d’ accès à l’intérieur des réservoirs comprennent une pluralité de pièces de secours sacrificielles intercalées entre le premier moyen de fermeture et la pièce de soutien de manière amovible, chaque pièce de secours sacrificielle augmentant la durabilité de la pièce de soutien According to one embodiment, the means of access to the interior of the tanks comprise a plurality of sacrificial emergency parts interposed between the first closing means and the part removably supported, each sacrificial spare part increasing the durability of the support part
Selon un mode de réalisation, les moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’ évidement comprennent au moins un tuyau d’ aspiration de fluide et/ou de solide et au moins un tuyau d’inj ection de fluide et/ou de solide. Le tuyau d’injection permet d’injecter un fluide et/ou un solide dans l’ évidement, typiquement de manière à entourer le ou les réservoirs insérés dans l’ évidement avec ledit fluide et/ou solide. De même, le tuyau de pompage permet de retirer ledit fluide et/ou solide de l’ évidement de manière a permettre le pompage et la circulation du fluide et/ou du solide présents au fond de l’ évidement. According to one embodiment, the means for accessing the contents of the recess comprise at least one fluid and/or solid suction pipe and at least one fluid and/or solid injection pipe. The injection pipe makes it possible to inject a fluid and/or a solid into the recess, typically so as to surround the reservoir(s) inserted into the recess with said fluid and/or solid. Similarly, the pumping pipe makes it possible to remove said fluid and/or solid from the recess so as to allow the pumping and circulation of the fluid and/or solid present at the bottom of the recess.
Selon un mode de réalisation, les moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’ évidement comprennent un local extérieur à l’ évidement, les tuyaux d’injection et/ou d’ aspiration débouchant et/ou étant commandés depuis ce local extérieur à l’ évidement. According to one embodiment, the means of access to the contents of the recess comprise a room outside the recess, the injection and/or suction pipes opening out and/or being controlled from this room outside the recess.
Avantageusement, le réservoir comprend au moins un tube métallique, ledit tube métallique présentant au moins une terminaison dotée d’ au moins une portion filetée. Advantageously, the tank comprises at least one metal tube, said metal tube having at least one termination provided with at least one threaded portion.
Le réservoir comprend au moins deux tubes métalliques assemblés par vissage, de sorte à former une colonne de tubes. The tank consists of at least two metal tubes assembled by screwing, so as to form a column of tubes.
De préférence, la pièce de soutien comporte une portion filetée inférieure. Le tube métallique ou la colonne et la pièce de soutien sont assemblées par vissage d’une portion filetée dudit ou de l’un desdits tubes métalliques formant la colonne et de la portion filetée inférieure de la pièce de soutien. Preferably, the support piece comprises a lower threaded portion. The metal tube or column and the support piece are assembled by screwing a threaded portion of said or one of said metal tubes forming the column and the lower threaded portion of the support piece.
De préférence, le réservoir est suspendu à l’intérieur de l’ évidement de sorte qu’un jeu axial apte à absorber une dilatation thermique axiale du réservoir subsiste entre le premier moyen de fermeture du réservoir et le fond de l’ évidement. Preferably, the reservoir is suspended inside the recess so that an axial clearance capable of absorbing axial thermal expansion of the reservoir remains between the first means for closing the reservoir and the bottom of the recess.
Avantageusement, le jeu axial apte à absorber une dilatation thermique axiale du réservoir, respecte l’inéquation suivante : Advantageously, the axial clearance capable of absorbing axial thermal expansion of the tank complies with the following inequality:
[Math 1 ] Où : G est la longueur du jeu axial exprimée en mètres, L représente la longueur d’un réservoir exprimée en mètres entre l’ élément de support et l’ extrémité inférieure du réservoir, P représente le gradient géothermique du terrain exprimé en degrés Celsius par mètre, a représente le coefficient de dilatation thermique du métal dans lequel est réalisé le réservoir exprimé en mètres par degré Celsius. [Math 1] Where: G is the length of the axial clearance expressed in meters, L represents the length of a tank expressed in meters between the support element and the lower end of the tank, P represents the geothermal gradient of the ground expressed in degrees Celsius per meter, a represents the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal in which the tank is made expressed in meters per degree Celsius.
De préférence, la pièce de soutien comporte une portion filetée supérieure et la pièce de secours sacrificielle est montée de manière étanche sur la pièce de soutien par vissage sur ladite portion filetée supérieure. Preferably, the support piece has an upper threaded portion and the sacrificial backup piece is tightly mounted on the support piece by screwing onto said upper threaded portion.
Optionnellement, le premier moyen de fermeture et/ou le deuxième moyen de fermeture est apte à fermer le réservoir de manière étanche par vissage. Par exemple, le premier moyen de fermeture est vissé sur une portion filetée supérieure de la pièce de secours sacrificielle. Optionally, the first closure means and/or the second closure means is capable of sealing the tank by screwing. For example, the first closure means is screwed onto an upper threaded portion of the sacrificial spare part.
Selon un mode de réalisation, le système de stockage comprend une pluralité de réservoirs, chaque réservoir présentant un axe longitudinal, une extrémité inférieure et une extrémité supérieure, ladite extrémité supérieure de chaque réservoir étant apte à être assemblée à l’ élément de support par l’intermédiaire d’une pièce de soutien respective de sorte que chaque réservoir soit suspendu à l’intérieur de l’ évidement. According to one embodiment, the storage system comprises a plurality of tanks, each tank having a longitudinal axis, a lower end and an upper end, said upper end of each tank being adapted to be assembled to the support element by means of a respective support part so that each tank is suspended inside the recess.
Avantageusement, l’ évidement comporte au moins un cuvelage, ledit cuvelage étant en béton, en ciment, ou en acier. Advantageously, the recess comprises at least one casing, said casing being made of concrete, cement, or steel.
L ’invention a également pour obj et un procédé de stockage souterrain pour le stockage de fluides via un système de stockage tel que décrit ci-dessus. Le procédé comporte au moins les étapes suivantes aménagement d’un évidement dans un terrain, ledit évidement présentant un fond, fourniture d’un élément de support comprenant au moins une ouverture apte à recevoir une pièce de soutien, fourniture d’ au moins un réservoir, ledit réservoir présentant un axe longitudinal, une extrémité inférieure et une extrémité supérieure, ladite extrémité supérieure comportant la pièce de soutien, fourniture d’un premier moyen de fermeture apte à fermer ledit réservoir à son extrémité inférieure, et un deuxième moyen de fermeture apte à fermer le réservoir à son extrémité supérieure, assemblage de ladite extrémité supérieure à l’ élément de support par l’intermédiaire de la pièce de soutien de sorte que le réservoir soit suspendu à l’intérieur de l’ évidement, et aménagement de moyens d’ accès depuis l’ extérieur de l’ évidement comprenant au moins l’un parmi des moyens d’ accès à chaque réservoir, des moyens d’ accès à l’intérieur des réservoirs, et des moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’ évidement. The invention also relates to an underground storage method for storing fluids via a storage system as described above. The method comprises at least the following steps: providing a recess in a ground, said recess having a bottom, providing a support element comprising at least one opening capable of receiving a support part, providing at least one tank, said tank having a longitudinal axis, a lower end and a lower end upper end, said upper end comprising the support piece, providing a first closing means adapted to close said reservoir at its lower end, and a second closing means adapted to close the reservoir at its upper end, assembling said upper end to the support element by means of the support piece so that the reservoir is suspended inside the recess, and providing means of access from outside the recess comprising at least one of means of access to each reservoir, means of access to the interior of the reservoirs, and means of access to the contents of the recess.
Définitions Definitions
On entend par « extrémité inférieure » du réservoir, l’ extrémité du réservoir qui se situe à proximité du fond de l’ évidement. Cette « extrémité inférieure » se définie en opposition à l ’ extrémité dite « extrémité supérieure » du réservoir, qui se situe à proximité de l’ élément de support et donc de la surface du sol. The term "lower end" of the tank means the end of the tank which is located near the bottom of the recess. This "lower end" is defined in contrast to the so-called "upper end" of the tank, which is located near the support element and therefore the ground surface.
On entend par « jeu axial » une longueur, qui s’ étend selon l’ axe longitudinal du réservoir, mesurée entre le premier moyen de fermeture du réservoir, qui est proximal du fond de l’ évidement, et le fond de l’ évidement. A noter que, la position d’un réservoir peut ne pas être parfaitement verticale. Dans ce cas, l’ axe longitudinal du réservoir présente un angle par rapport à la verticale dans le repère (x ; y). Cet angle présente une valeur maximale de 15° . Dans ce cas, la mesure du jeu axial se fait par projection orthogonale sur l’axe vertical passant par un point du premier moyen de fermeture situé le plus proche du fond de l’ évidement. Autrement dit, le j eu axial correspond toujours à la distance la plus courte, mesurée entre le fond de l’ évidement et le premier moyen de fermeture. On entend par « tube métallique fileté » un tube comprenant au moins une terminaison présentant au moins une portion filetée, apte à être assemblée à un autre élément, par exemples un autre tube métallique fileté, un moyen de fermeture ou encore une pièce de soutien, comprenant au moins une terminaison présentant au moins une portion filetée complémentaire. Le filetage peut être mâle ou femelle. "Axial clearance" means a length, which extends along the longitudinal axis of the tank, measured between the first closure means of the tank, which is proximal to the bottom of the recess, and the bottom of the recess. Note that the position of a tank may not be perfectly vertical. In this case, the longitudinal axis of the tank has an angle with respect to the vertical in the (x; y) reference frame. This angle has a maximum value of 15°. In this case, the measurement of the axial clearance is done by orthogonal projection on the vertical axis passing through a point of the first closure means located closest to the bottom of the recess. In other words, the axial clearance always corresponds to the shortest distance, measured between the bottom of the recess and the first closure means. The term "threaded metal tube" means a tube comprising at least one termination having at least one threaded portion, capable of being assembled to another element, for example another threaded metal tube, a closing means or even a support part, comprising at least one termination having at least one complementary threaded portion. The thread may be male or female.
On entend par « fond de l’ évidement », la surface du fond de l’ évidement. Ainsi, lorsque l’ évidement est cuvelé et que ledit cuvelage est cimenté, le terme « fond de l’ évidement » désigne alors la surface de la couche de ciment se trouvant au fond de l’ évidement. Lorsque le cuvelage n’est pas cimenté, le terme « fond de l ’évidement » désigne tout simplement la surface du terrain dans lequel est formé l’ évidement se trouvant au fond de l ’évidement. The term "bottom of the recess" means the surface of the bottom of the recess. Thus, when the recess is lined and the said lining is cemented, the term "bottom of the recess" then designates the surface of the cement layer at the bottom of the recess. When the lining is not cemented, the term "bottom of the recess" simply designates the surface of the ground in which the recess is formed, located at the bottom of the recess.
Brève description des dessins Brief description of the drawings
D ’ autres buts, caractéristiques et avantages de l’invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description suivante, donnée uniquement à titre d’ exemple non limitatif et faite en référence aux dessins annexés sur lesquels : Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:
- La [Fig. 1 ] est une vue schématique de la structure générale d’un système de stockage souterrain ; - [Fig. 1] is a schematic view of the general structure of an underground storage system;
- La [Fig. 2] est une vue schématique de l’ élément de support d’un système de stockage souterrain ; - [Fig. 2] is a schematic view of the support element of an underground storage system;
- La [Fig. 3] est une vue schématique de l’ élément de support d’un système de stockage souterrain comprenant un couloir selon un mode de réalisation de l ’invention ; et - [Fig. 3] is a schematic view of the support element of an underground storage system comprising a corridor according to one embodiment of the invention; and
- La [Fig. 4] est une vue schématique de l’ extrémité supérieure d’un réservoir contenu dans un système de stockage souterrain selon un mode de réalisation de l ’invention. - [Fig. 4] is a schematic view of the upper end of a reservoir contained in an underground storage system according to one embodiment of the invention.
Description détaillée La figure 1 illustre une vue en coupe d’un système de stockage 1 , dans un repère (x ; y). L’ axe x du repère (x ; y) est un axe horizontal, et l’ axe y du repère (x ; y) est un axe vertical correspondant à l’ axe de gravité terrestre. Detailed description Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a storage system 1 , in a (x; y) frame. The x axis of the (x; y) frame is a horizontal axis, and the y axis of the (x; y) frame is a vertical axis corresponding to the Earth's gravity axis.
Le système de stockage 1 comprend un évidement 2 réalisé dans un terrain 3 , un élément de support 4 posé sur une surface d’un sol S du terrain 3 , des moyens d’ accès depuis l’ extérieur de l’ évidement (2), et six réservoirs 5 suspendus à l’ élément de support 4 dans l’ évidement 2 (seulement quatre réservoirs 5 sont visibles sur la figure 1 ). Selon les modes de réalisation, le système de stockage 1 comprend au moins un réservoir 5. The storage system 1 comprises a recess 2 made in a ground 3, a support element 4 placed on a surface of a ground S of the ground 3, means of access from outside the recess (2), and six tanks 5 suspended from the support element 4 in the recess 2 (only four tanks 5 are visible in FIG. 1). According to the embodiments, the storage system 1 comprises at least one tank 5.
L ’ évidement 2 présente un fond 6 et comprend un cuvelage 7. L ’évidement 2 peut être obtenu par forage ou par excavation. L’ évidement 2 est de forme sensiblement cylindrique circulaire et présente par exemple un diamètre moyen de quatre mètres. Le cuvelage 7 est en ciment et s’ étend verticalement depuis la surface du sol S jusqu’ au fond 6 de l’ évidement 2. The recess 2 has a bottom 6 and comprises a casing 7. The recess 2 can be obtained by drilling or by excavation. The recess 2 is of substantially circular cylindrical shape and has, for example, an average diameter of four meters. The casing 7 is made of cement and extends vertically from the surface of the ground S to the bottom 6 of the recess 2.
Tel que représenté sur les figures 1 et 2, l’ élément de support 4 est une plaque cylindrique circulaire présentant un corps central 19 et une collerette 20, ladite collerette 20 présentant une surface inférieure reposant sur le sol S . Le corps central 19 présente une première épaisseur et la collerette présente une deuxième épaisseur, la première épaisseur étant supérieure à la deuxième épaisseur. L’ élément de support 4 comprend en outre une surface supérieure, ladite surface supérieure étant opposée à la surface inférieure de la collerette 20. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support element 4 is a circular cylindrical plate having a central body 19 and a flange 20, said flange 20 having a lower surface resting on the ground S. The central body 19 has a first thickness and the flange has a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. The support element 4 further comprises an upper surface, said upper surface being opposite the lower surface of the flange 20.
Tel qu’illustré sur la figure 2, l’ élément de support 4 comprend également six ouvertures 8. Les ouvertures 8 sont des trous traversant la première épaisseur et débouchant sur la surface supérieure et sur la surface inférieure du corps central 19 de l’ élément de support 4. L’ élément de support 4 comprend au moins une ouverture 8. De préférence, ces ouvertures 8 sont cylindriques et présentent une génératrice perpendiculaire à la surface supérieure et à la surface inférieure. Chaque réservoir 5 peut comprendre une pluralité de tubes A. Dans le mode de réalisation illustré à la figure 1 , les réservoirs 5 comportent plusieurs tubes A filetés. Ainsi, les tubes A sont assemblés par vissage de sorte à former une colonne C de tubes A. Ces tubes A et donc la colonne C présentent une section de dimension inférieure à la section de l’ouverture 8 destinée à recevoir le réservoir 5 comportant le tube ou la colonne C de sorte que le tube A ou la colonne C dudit réservoir 5 peut être inséré ou retiré de l ’évidement 2 à travers l’ouverture 8. As illustrated in Figure 2, the support element 4 also comprises six openings 8. The openings 8 are holes passing through the first thickness and opening onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the central body 19 of the support element 4. The support element 4 comprises at least one opening 8. Preferably, these openings 8 are cylindrical and have a generatrix perpendicular to the upper surface and to the lower surface. Each reservoir 5 may comprise a plurality of tubes A. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the reservoirs 5 comprise several threaded tubes A. Thus, the tubes A are assembled by screwing so as to form a column C of tubes A. These tubes A and therefore the column C have a section of dimension smaller than the section of the opening 8 intended to receive the reservoir 5 comprising the tube or the column C so that the tube A or the column C of said reservoir 5 can be inserted or removed from the recess 2 through the opening 8.
Ainsi, les réservoirs 5 sont de forme générale tubulaire, de section circulaire, et présentent chacun un axe longitudinal, une extrémité inférieure 13 et une extrémité supérieure 14. Thus, the tanks 5 are generally tubular in shape, with a circular section, and each have a longitudinal axis, a lower end 13 and an upper end 14.
Chaque réservoir 5 est fermé à son extrémité inférieure 13 par un premier moyen de fermeture 12, et chaque réservoir 5 est fermé à son extrémité supérieure 14 par un deuxième moyen de fermeture 15. Dans le mode de réalisation illustré à la figure 1 , l’ extrémité inférieure 13 et l’ extrémité supérieure 14 de chaque réservoir 5 comporte un filetage sur lesquels sont vissés de façon étanche respectivement le premier moyen de fermeture 12 et le deuxième moyen de fermeture 15. Ainsi, l’ extrémité inférieure 13 est fermée de façon étanche par vissage du premier moyen de fermeture 12, et l’ extrémité supérieure 14 est fermée de façon étanche par vissage du deuxième moyen de fermeture 15. Each tank 5 is closed at its lower end 13 by a first closing means 12, and each tank 5 is closed at its upper end 14 by a second closing means 15. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower end 13 and the upper end 14 of each tank 5 have a thread onto which the first closing means 12 and the second closing means 15 are screwed in a sealed manner respectively. Thus, the lower end 13 is closed in a sealed manner by screwing the first closing means 12, and the upper end 14 is closed in a sealed manner by screwing the second closing means 15.
Autrement dit, chaque réservoir 5 est formé par un ensemble comportant d’une colonne C, et est fermé à ses extrémités 13 , 14 par des moyens de fermetures 12, 15. Un réservoir 5 peut également comporter un unique tube A, et être fermé à ses extrémités 13 et 14 par des moyens de fermeture 12 et 15. In other words, each tank 5 is formed by an assembly comprising a column C, and is closed at its ends 13, 14 by closing means 12, 15. A tank 5 can also comprise a single tube A, and be closed at its ends 13 and 14 by closing means 12 and 15.
Comme expliqué ci-dessous, l’ extrémité supérieure des réservoirs 5 comporte une pièce de soutien 17 intercalée entre le tube A, ou la colonne C, et le deuxième moyen de fermeture 15. Cette pièce de soutien 17 coopère avec l’ élément de support 4 pour suspendre le réservoir 5 dans l’ évidement 2. As explained below, the upper end of the tanks 5 comprises a support piece 17 interposed between the tube A, or the column C, and the second closing means 15. This support piece 17 cooperates with the support element 4 to suspend the tank 5 in the recess 2.
Les moyens d’ accès sont destinés à permettre de mettre en œuvre des opérations de maintenance en permettant un accès aux divers éléments de l’installation depuis l’ extérieur. Ils comprennent en particulier au moins l’un parmi des moyens d’ accès pour chaque réservoir 5 , des moyens d’ accès à l ’intérieur de chaque réservoir 5 , et des moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’ évidement 2. The means of access are intended to enable maintenance operations to be carried out by allowing access to the various elements of the installation from the outside. They comprise in particular at least one of means of access for each tank 5, means of access to the interior of each tank 5, and means of access to the contents of the recess 2.
Un premier moyen d’ accès aux réservoirs comporte un passage ménagé en périphérie de l’ élément de support 4. Ce passage est par exemple formé autour de l ’élément de support 4 et/ou sur la face supérieure de la collerette 20. Typiquement, un tel passage permet à un opérateur souhaitant réaliser une opération de maintenance sur un réservoir 5 situé en périphérie de l’ élément de support 4 d’ avoir accès audit réservoir 5 simplement en se déplaçant sur le pourtour de l’ élément de support 4. Un tel passage atour de l’élément de support 4 peut être réalisé dans le terrain 3 entourant la collerette 20, par exemple sur la surface S si l’ élément de support 4 repose sur le sol S ou sur le fond d’une cavité (non illustré) formée dans le terrain 3 et sur lequel l’ élément de support 4 repose. A first means of access to the tanks comprises a passage provided on the periphery of the support element 4. This passage is for example formed around the support element 4 and/or on the upper face of the collar 20. Typically, such a passage allows an operator wishing to carry out a maintenance operation on a tank 5 located on the periphery of the support element 4 to have access to said tank 5 simply by moving around the periphery of the support element 4. Such a passage around the support element 4 can be made in the ground 3 surrounding the collar 20, for example on the surface S if the support element 4 rests on the ground S or on the bottom of a cavity (not shown) formed in the ground 3 and on which the support element 4 rests.
S ’il y a beaucoup de réservoirs 5 stockés dans l ’évidement 2, certains sont situés au centre de l’ ensemble regroupant les réservoirs 5 et sont donc inaccessibles depuis un passage ménagé en périphérie de l’ élément de support 4. Il est pourtant nécessaire d’y avoir accès pour effectuer les opérations de maintenance. Les moyens d’ accès à chaque réservoir 5 comprennent donc un deuxième moyen d’ accès aux réservoirs 5 sous la forme d’un couloir 9, tel qu’illustré sur la figure 3 , s’ étendant radialement autour du point central de l’ élément de support 4. En fonction de certaines variables ou contraintes de l’installation, comme le nombre de réservoirs 5 stockés dans l’ évidement 2 et les dimensions de l’ élément de support 4, il peut y avoir un ou plusieurs couloirs 9 facilitant l’ accès à chaque réservoir 5. If there are many tanks 5 stored in the recess 2, some are located in the center of the assembly grouping the tanks 5 and are therefore inaccessible from a passage arranged on the periphery of the support element 4. It is however necessary to have access to them to carry out maintenance operations. The means of access to each tank 5 therefore comprise a second means of access to the tanks 5 in the form of a corridor 9, as illustrated in FIG. 3, extending radially around the central point of the support element 4. Depending on certain variables or constraints of the installation, such as the number of tanks 5 stored in the recess 2 and the dimensions of the support element 4, there may be one or more corridors 9 facilitating access to each tank 5.
Chaque réservoir 5 doit être accessible par au moins un opérateur et la configuration de l’ élément de support 4 doit donc permettre un accès à chaque réservoir 5. Une compacité maximale des réservoirs est également préférée pour optimiser le nombre de réservoirs 5 dans une installation. Pour cela, l’équation suivante définit le niveau de compacité optimal : [Math 2] Each tank 5 must be accessible by at least one operator and the configuration of the support element 4 must therefore allow access to each tank 5. Maximum compactness of the tanks is also preferred to optimize the number of tanks 5 in an installation. For this, the following equation defines the optimal level of compactness: [Math 2]
Avec j l’indice de chaque groupe de réservoirs 5 ayant un diamètre différent, ODsj le diamètre extérieur du réservoir 5 et Am la zone nécessaire pour accéder aux réservoirs 5 depuis l’ élément de support 4. Am est définie en considérant un couloir 9 d’une largeur comprise entre 0,6 mètre et 1 mètre. L ’ accès aux réservoirs 5 situés à l’ extrémité de l ’élément de support 4 se fait directement depuis l’ extérieur de l’élément de support 4 via le passage ad hoc. With j the index of each group of tanks 5 having a different diameter, ODsj the external diameter of the tank 5 and Am the area necessary to access the tanks 5 from the support element 4. Am is defined by considering a corridor 9 with a width between 0.6 meters and 1 meter. Access to the tanks 5 located at the end of the support element 4 is done directly from the outside of the support element 4 via the ad hoc passage.
Sur la figure 3 , le système de stockage 1 comporte une cinquantaine de réservoirs 5 et, par conséquent, l ’élément de support 4 comporte une cinquantaine d’ouvertures 8 , chaque réservoir 5 étant suspendu dans l’ évidement 2 via une ouverture 8 respective de l’ élément de support 4. Cette configuration est circulaire et contient un couloir 9 de maintenance laissant deux rangées de réservoirs 5 sur sa partie radialement externe et une rangée de sept réservoirs 5 sur sa partie radialement interne. La rangée de réservoirs 5 extérieure est accessible depuis le passage ménagé en périphérie de l’ élément de support 4, et les rangées de réservoirs 5 interne et centrale sont accessibles depuis le couloir 9 circulaire sur l ’élément de support 4. Les réservoirs 5 sont espacés sur au moins une partie des deux rangées extérieures, pour créer une entrée 10 débouchant sur le couloir 9. In Figure 3, the storage system 1 comprises about fifty tanks 5 and, consequently, the support element 4 comprises about fifty openings 8, each tank 5 being suspended in the recess 2 via a respective opening 8 of the support element 4. This configuration is circular and contains a maintenance corridor 9 leaving two rows of tanks 5 on its radially external part and a row of seven tanks 5 on its radially internal part. The outer row of tanks 5 is accessible from the passage provided on the periphery of the support element 4, and the inner and central rows of tanks 5 are accessible from the circular corridor 9 on the support element 4. The tanks 5 are spaced on at least part of the two outer rows, to create an entrance 10 opening onto the corridor 9.
Bien entendu, l’ élément de support 4 de même que l’ évidement 2 peuvent être de plusieurs formes, par exemple circulaire ou polygonal. Of course, the support element 4 as well as the recess 2 can be of several shapes, for example circular or polygonal.
Une aire circulaire de l’ élément de support 4, se définit ainsi : [Math 3] A circular area of the support element 4 is defined as follows: [Math 3]
Une aire polygonale de l’ élément de support 4, se définit ainsi : [Math 4] A polygonal area of the support element 4 is defined as follows: [Math 4]
Avec : Ai l’ aire de chaque triangle qui composent l’ aire du polygone. With: Ai the area of each triangle that makes up the area of the polygon.
Bien entendu, les réservoirs 5 peuvent être disposés sur l’ élément de support 4 selon une ligne horizontale, verticale, décalée, alignée sur un cercle ou sur toute autre forme géométrique, et les réservoirs 5 peuvent avoir des dimensions différentes les uns des autres. Of course, the tanks 5 can be arranged on the support element 4 along a horizontal, vertical, offset line, aligned with a circle or any other geometric shape, and the tanks 5 can have different dimensions from each other.
Comme illustré sur la figure 1 les réservoirs 5 sont suspendus à l’ élément de support 4. Ainsi, pour chaque réservoir 5 du système de stockage 1 , un jeu axial G subsiste entre d’une part, le premier moyen de fermeture 12 qui ferme l ’extrémité inférieure 13 du réservoir 5 , et d’ autre part, le fond 6 de l’ évidement 2. Ce jeu axial G a pour fonction d’ absorber une dilatation thermique axiale du réservoir 5 , qui se produit notamment lors des opérations de remplissage et de vidage. Ainsi, pour chaque réservoir 5 , le dimensionnement du jeu axial G, et notamment sa longueur, dépend directement des conditions environnantes du système de stockage 1 , notamment des conditions de température, de pression, et de la capacité du réservoir 5 à s’ allonger lorsqu’il est soumis à des variations de température et de pression, notamment lors d’opérations de remplissage et de vidage. Ainsi, le jeu axial G de n’importe quel réservoir 5 du système de stockage 1 répond à l’inéquation suivante : As illustrated in Figure 1, the tanks 5 are suspended from the support element 4. Thus, for each tank 5 of the storage system 1, an axial clearance G remains between, on the one hand, the first closing means 12 which closes the lower end 13 of the tank 5, and on the other hand, the bottom 6 of the recess 2. This axial clearance G has the function of absorbing an axial thermal expansion of the tank 5, which occurs in particular during filling and emptying operations. Thus, for each tank 5, the dimensioning of the axial clearance G, and in particular its length, depends directly on the surrounding conditions of the storage system 1, in particular the temperature and pressure conditions, and the capacity of the tank 5 to elongate when it is subjected to variations in temperature and pressure, in particular during filling and emptying operations. Thus, the axial clearance G of any tank 5 of the storage system 1 responds to the following inequality:
[Math [Math
Où : G est la longueur du jeu axial exprimée en mètres. L représente la longueur d’un réservoir 5 exprimée en mètres. P représente le gradient géothermique du terrain 3 exprimé en degrés Celsius par mètre. Le gradient géothermique P varie selon la formation géologique dans laquelle le système de stockage 1 est placé. Ainsi P est tel que 0,02°/m< P<2°/m. a représente le coefficient de dilatation thermique du métal dans lequel est réalisé le réservoir 5 exprimé en degré Celsius- 1. Le coefficient de dilatation thermique a varie selon le type de métal qui compose les tubes utilisés pour former un réservoir 5. Ainsi, a est tel que 8* 10-6 °C- 1 < a < 18 * 10-6 °C- 1. Les moyens d’ accès à l’intérieur de chaque réservoir 5 comprennent une pièce de secours sacrificielle 16. Cette pièce de secours sacrificielle 16, la pièce de soutien 17 et le deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 forment conjointement l’ extrémité supérieure 14 du réservoir 5. L ’ extrémité supérieure 14 est représentée sur la figure 4. La pièce de soutien 17 comporte un corps tubulaire 21 métallique, de section circulaire, présentant une collerette 22. Une périphérie de cette collerette 22 présente des dimensions supérieures aux dimensions de l’ouverture 8 de sorte qu’ elle repose sur la surface supérieure de l’ élément de support 4 lorsque le réservoir 5 est inséré dans l ’ouverture 8. La collerette 22 est ainsi apte à suspendre le réservoir 5 dans l’ évidement 2 via l’ élément de support 4. Where: G is the length of the axial clearance expressed in meters. L represents the length of a reservoir 5 expressed in meters. P represents the geothermal gradient of the ground 3 expressed in degrees Celsius per meter. The geothermal gradient P varies according to the geological formation in which the storage system 1 is placed. Thus P is such that 0.02°/m < P < 2°/m. a represents the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal in which the reservoir 5 is made expressed in degrees Celsius - 1. The coefficient of thermal expansion a varies according to the type of metal that makes up the tubes used to form a reservoir 5. Thus, a is such that 8 * 10-6 °C - 1 < a < 18 * 10-6 °C - 1. The means of access to the interior of each tank 5 comprise a sacrificial emergency part 16. This sacrificial emergency part 16, the support part 17 and the second closing means 15 together form the upper end 14 of the tank 5. The upper end 14 is shown in FIG. 4. The support part 17 comprises a metallic tubular body 21, of circular section, having a collar 22. A periphery of this collar 22 has dimensions greater than the dimensions of the opening 8 so that it rests on the upper surface of the support element 4 when the tank 5 is inserted into the opening 8. The collar 22 is thus able to suspend the tank 5 in the recess 2 via the support element 4.
Dans le mode de réalisation où la collerette 22 permet au réservoir 5 de reposer sur la surface supérieure de l’élément de support 4, le réservoir 5 ne nécessite pas d’ être fixé à l’ élément de support 4, ce qui simplifie l’ assemblage du système de stockage 1. Il est cependant possible, en variante, de fixer la collerette 22 à l’ élément de support 4 par exemple par vissage vis ou tout autre moyen adapté. In the embodiment where the collar 22 allows the reservoir 5 to rest on the upper surface of the support element 4, the reservoir 5 does not need to be fixed to the support element 4, which simplifies the assembly of the storage system 1. It is however possible, as a variant, to fix the collar 22 to the support element 4 for example by screwing screws or any other suitable means.
La pièce de soutien 17 est assemblée de manière étanche à son extrémité inférieure au tube A ou à la colonne C par vissage. La pièce de soutien 17 est assemblée à son extrémité supérieure à la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16, et la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 est assemblée au deuxième moyen de fermeture 15. Ces assemblages sont réalisés avec des raccords filetés composés d’au moins un joint. The support piece 17 is tightly assembled at its lower end to the tube A or to the column C by screwing. The support piece 17 is assembled at its upper end to the sacrificial emergency piece 16, and the sacrificial emergency piece 16 is assembled to the second closing means 15. These assemblies are made with threaded connections composed of at least one seal.
Les opérations de maintenance à l’intérieur du réservoir 5 , se font via le deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 et/ou via la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16. En effet, le deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 et/ou la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 peuvent être dévissés et désolidarisés de la pièce de soutien 17 afin d’ accéder au contenu du réservoir 5 , par exemple pour inspecter l’ état de l’intérieur du réservoir 5. Cependant, le vissage/dévissage réalisé lors des opérations de maintenance engendre des dommages sur les pièces qui doivent être changées au bout de quelques manipulations. Pour des raisons de sûreté, le vissage/dévissage des pièces est préférentiellement limité à trois opérations. En effet, après trois opérations de vissage/dévissage du deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 , le joint au niveau du deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 ne garantit pas de façon certaine l’ étanchéité du réservoir 5. Il est alors nécessaire de remplacer les pièces coopérant pour former ce joint. C ’ est pourquoi il est avantageux de mettre une pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 servant à rallonger l’ espérance de vie de la pièce de soutien 17. En effet, lorsque trois opérations de vissage/dévissage du deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 sont effectuées sur le réservoir 5 , le deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 et la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 sont alors remplacés. En effectuant ce remplacement, un vissage/dévissage est effectué entre la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 et la pièce de soutien 17. Une fois la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 et le moyen de fermeture 15 remplacés, trois opérations peuvent être faites avant de devoir à nouveau changer les pièces. The maintenance operations inside the tank 5 are carried out via the second closing means 15 and/or via the sacrificial emergency part 16. Indeed, the second closing means 15 and/or the sacrificial emergency part 16 can be unscrewed and detached from the support part 17 in order to access the contents of the tank 5, for example to inspect the state of the inside of the tank 5. However, the screwing/unscrewing carried out during the maintenance operations causes damage to the parts which must be changed after a few manipulations. For safety reasons, the screwing/unscrewing of the parts is preferably limited to three operations. Indeed, after three screwing/unscrewing operations of the second closure means 15, the seal at the second closure means 15 does not guarantee the sealing of the tank 5 with certainty. It is then necessary to replace the parts cooperating to form this seal. This is why it is advantageous to put a sacrificial backup part 16 serving to extend the life expectancy of the support part 17. Indeed, when three screwing/unscrewing operations of the second closure means 15 are carried out on the tank 5, the second closure means 15 and the sacrificial backup part 16 are then replaced. When carrying out this replacement, a screwing/unscrewing is carried out between the sacrificial spare part 16 and the support part 17. Once the sacrificial spare part 16 and the closing means 15 have been replaced, three operations can be carried out before having to change the parts again.
Ainsi, le fait d’utiliser une pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 permet jusqu’ à neuf opérations sur le réservoir 5 sans devoir changer la pièce de soutien 17. Le remplacement de la pièce de soutien 17 impliquant le retrait complet du réservoir 5 de l’ évidement 2, un temps de travail et d’ autres engagements supplémentaires, la pièce de secours sacrificielle 16 permet d’ améliorer la praticité d’utilisation du système de stockage 1 et de faciliter les opérations de maintenance. Thus, the use of a sacrificial spare part 16 allows up to nine operations on the tank 5 without having to change the support part 17. Since replacing the support part 17 involves the complete removal of the tank 5 from the recess 2, additional work time and other commitments, the sacrificial spare part 16 makes it possible to improve the practicality of use of the storage system 1 and to facilitate maintenance operations.
Bien entendu, l’ extrémité supérieure 14 du réservoir 5 peut comporter plus d’une pièce de secours sacrificielle 16, permettant d’ augmenter davantage le nombre d’opérations de maintenance sans avoir à retirer la totalité du réservoir 5 de l’ évidemment 2. Of course, the upper end 14 of the tank 5 may comprise more than one sacrificial spare part 16, making it possible to further increase the number of maintenance operations without having to remove the entire tank 5 from the well 2.
Pour permettre l’inspection des réservoirs 5 , et en particulier l’intérieur des réservoirs 5 , le système de stockage 1 est conçu pour permettre qu’un réservoir 5 soit contrôlé sans impacter le fonctionnement des autres réservoirs 5. Ainsi, un réservoir 5 peut être rincé, isolé, changé, sans que les autres réservoirs 5 ne soient concernés. To enable the inspection of the tanks 5, and in particular the interior of the tanks 5, the storage system 1 is designed to enable a tank 5 to be checked without impacting the operation of the other tanks 5. Thus, a tank 5 can be rinsed, isolated, changed, without the other tanks 5 being affected.
Le deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 est équipé de capteurs 18 tels que des manomètres, des thermomètres et des détecteurs de fuite. Bien entendu, le premier moyen de fermeture 12 peut aussi contenir des manomètres, des thermomètres et des détecteurs de fuite. D ’ autres types de capteurs peuvent être utilisés en fonction de la nature des paramètres à contrôler. The second closing means 15 is equipped with sensors 18 such as pressure gauges, thermometers and leak detectors. Of course, the first closure means 12 can also contain pressure gauges, thermometers and leak detectors. Other types of sensors can be used depending on the nature of the parameters to be controlled.
En plus des réservoirs 5 , l’ évidement 2 est de préférence rempli d’un matériau anti-déflagration. En cas de fuite du réservoir 5 , la présence d’oxygène ambiant dans l’ évidement 2 est limitée voire nulle réduisant le risque d’explosion Ce matériau anti-déflagration est un liquide et/ou un solide, par exemple de l’ eau, du sable ou autre. Il comporte de préférence des agents antibactériens tels que le chlore, un filtre antibactérien, ou du peroxyde d’hydrogène et des agents anticorrosion afin d’ éviter la prolifération des bactéries dans l’ environnement du réservoir 5 et la dégradation des réservoirs 5. In addition to the tanks 5, the recess 2 is preferably filled with an explosion-proof material. In the event of a leak from the tank 5, the presence of ambient oxygen in the recess 2 is limited or even zero, reducing the risk of explosion. This explosion-proof material is a liquid and/or a solid, for example water, sand or the like. It preferably comprises antibacterial agents such as chlorine, an antibacterial filter, or hydrogen peroxide and anticorrosion agents in order to prevent the proliferation of bacteria in the environment of the tank 5 and the degradation of the tanks 5.
Ce matériau nécessite d’ être entretenu afin de conserver ses caractéristiques et éviter la détérioration du système de stockage 1. This material requires maintenance in order to retain its characteristics and avoid deterioration of the storage system 1.
Lors d’opérations de maintenance, il est ainsi nécessaire de pouvoir accéder à ce matériau. Pour cela, les moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’ évidement 2 comportent au moins un tuyau d’ aspiration du matériau et un tuyau d’injection du matériau, lesdits tuyaux étant reliés au local. Idéalement, les moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’ évidemment comportent également un local extérieur à l’ évidement 2, par exemple dans lequel débouchent les tuyaux d’ aspiration et d’injection et/ou sont localisés les organes de commande des tuyaux d’aspiration et d’injection. During maintenance operations, it is therefore necessary to be able to access this material. For this, the means of access to the contents of the recess 2 comprise at least one material suction pipe and one material injection pipe, said pipes being connected to the room. Ideally, the means of access to the contents of the recess also comprise a room outside the recess 2, for example in which the suction and injection pipes open and/or the control members of the suction and injection pipes are located.
Selon un mode de réalisation, le tuyau d’injection est situé au- dessus du niveau du matériau, typiquement dans la partie supérieure de l’ évidement 2, et le tuyau d’ aspiration est situé au fond de l’évidement 2. Ces tuyaux permettent le pompage, l’injection et donc la circulation et/ou le remplacement du matériau dans l’ évidement 2. According to one embodiment, the injection pipe is located above the level of the material, typically in the upper part of the recess 2, and the suction pipe is located at the bottom of the recess 2. These pipes allow the pumping, injection and therefore the circulation and/or replacement of the material in the recess 2.
Le système de stockage 1 est utilisé pour stocker tout type de fluide, en particulier les gaz explosifs. Le fluide peut être de l’hydrogène, de l’oxygène, du méthane, de l’ azote, de l’ ammoniac. Préférentiellement, le fluide est de l’hydrogène. Storage system 1 is used to store any type of fluid, especially explosive gases. The fluid can be hydrogen, oxygen, methane, nitrogen, ammonia. Preferably, the fluid is hydrogen.
L ’invention propose également un procédé de stockage souterrain pour le stockage de fluides via un système de stockage 1 tel que décrit ci-dessus. Le procédé comporte au moins une étape d’ aménagement d’un évidement 2 dans un terrain 3 , ledit évidement 2 présentant un fond 6, une étape de fourniture d’un élément de support 4 comprenant au moins une ouverture 8 apte à recevoir une pièce de soutien 17, une étape de fourniture d’ au moins un réservoir 5 , ledit réservoir 5 présentant un axe longitudinal, une extrémité inférieure 13 et une extrémité supérieure 14, ladite extrémité supérieure 14 comportant la pièce de soutien 17, une étape de fourniture d’un premier moyen de fermeture 12 apte à fermer ledit réservoir 5 à son extrémité inférieure 13 , et un deuxième moyen de fermeture 15 apte à fermer le réservoir 5 à son extrémité supérieure 14, une étape d’ assemblage de ladite extrémité supérieure 14 à l’ élément de support 4 par l’intermédiaire de la pièce de soutien 17 de sorte que le réservoir 5 soit suspendu à l’intérieur de l’ évidement 2 et présente de préférence un jeu axial G apte à absorber une dilatation thermique axiale dudit réservoir 5 subsistant entre le premier moyen de fermeture 12 du réservoir 5 et le fond 6 de l’ évidement 2, et une étape d’aménagement de moyens d’ accès depuis l’ extérieur de l ’évidement (2), comprenant au moins l’un parmi des moyens d’accès à chaque réservoir 5 depuis l’ élément de support 4, des moyens d’ accès à l’intérieur des réservoirs 5 , et des moyens d’ accès au contenu de l’évidement 2. The invention also provides an underground storage method for storing fluids via a storage system 1 such as as described above. The method comprises at least one step of arranging a recess 2 in a terrain 3, said recess 2 having a bottom 6, a step of providing a support element 4 comprising at least one opening 8 capable of receiving a support piece 17, a step of providing at least one reservoir 5, said reservoir 5 having a longitudinal axis, a lower end 13 and an upper end 14, said upper end 14 comprising the support piece 17, a step of providing a first closing means 12 capable of closing said reservoir 5 at its lower end 13, and a second closing means 15 capable of closing the reservoir 5 at its upper end 14, a step of assembling said upper end 14 to the support element 4 by means of the support piece 17 so that the reservoir 5 is suspended inside the recess 2 and preferably has an axial clearance G capable of absorbing an axial thermal expansion of said reservoir 5 remaining between the first closing means 12 of the reservoir 5 and the bottom 6 of the recess 2, and a step of providing means of access from the outside of the recess (2), comprising at least one of means of access to each reservoir 5 from the support element 4, means of access to the inside of the reservoirs 5, and means of access to the contents of the recess 2.
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRFR2309556 | 2023-09-11 | ||
| FR2309556A FR3152856A1 (en) | 2023-09-11 | 2023-09-11 | STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING FLUIDS COMPRISING ACCESS MEANS FOR CARRYING OUT MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2025056853A1 true WO2025056853A1 (en) | 2025-03-20 |
Family
ID=89573382
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2024/051182 Pending WO2025056853A1 (en) | 2023-09-11 | 2024-09-10 | Storage system and method for storing fluids comprising access means for performing maintenance operations |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AR (1) | AR133533A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR3152856A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2025056853A1 (en) |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5333465A (en) * | 1992-04-30 | 1994-08-02 | Mcbride Terry R | Underground storage system for natural gas |
| CN202915039U (en) * | 2012-10-26 | 2013-05-01 | 石家庄安瑞科气体机械有限公司 | Novel high-pressure underground gas storage well |
| US9109751B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2015-08-18 | Compress Energy Systems, LLC | Compressed gas storage and collection apparatus |
| FR3135074A1 (en) * | 2022-04-29 | 2023-11-03 | Vallourec Oil And Gas France | Underground storage system for fluid storage |
-
2023
- 2023-09-11 FR FR2309556A patent/FR3152856A1/en active Pending
-
2024
- 2024-08-12 AR ARP240102137A patent/AR133533A1/en unknown
- 2024-09-10 WO PCT/FR2024/051182 patent/WO2025056853A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5333465A (en) * | 1992-04-30 | 1994-08-02 | Mcbride Terry R | Underground storage system for natural gas |
| CN202915039U (en) * | 2012-10-26 | 2013-05-01 | 石家庄安瑞科气体机械有限公司 | Novel high-pressure underground gas storage well |
| US9109751B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2015-08-18 | Compress Energy Systems, LLC | Compressed gas storage and collection apparatus |
| FR3135074A1 (en) * | 2022-04-29 | 2023-11-03 | Vallourec Oil And Gas France | Underground storage system for fluid storage |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR3152856A1 (en) | 2025-03-14 |
| AR133533A1 (en) | 2025-10-08 |
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