A large volume natural gas storage tank comprises rigid tubular walls having closed tubular cross-sections that are interconnected at opposing ends with two other rigid tubular walls such that interiors of the rigid tubular walls define an interior fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes bulkheads positioned in the interior fluid storage chamber across intermediate segments of the rigid tubular walls and closure plates connected between exterior surfaces of successive interconnected rigid tubular walls to define sides of the storage tank. Interior surfaces of the closure plates and exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls define an auxiliary fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes exterior support structures extending through the closure plates and between the exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls on some of the sides of the storage tank to reinforce the storage tank against dynamic loading from fluid in the interior fluid storage chamber.

A method for manufacturing a vessel configured for housing a fluid within, the method comprising: providing two Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) structures shaped with complementary coupling interfaces configured to match with each other, such that an interior volume is defined when the FRP structures are coupled to each other; coupling the FRP structures to each other such that the interior volume is defined; and fastening the FRP structures after they have been coupled to each other.

A method for manufacturing a vessel configured for housing a fluid within, the method including: providing at least two at least partially cured fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) structures with complementary shapes configured for matching with each other such that an interior volume is defined when the at least partially cured FRP structures are coupled to each other; coupling the at least partially cured FRP structures to each other such that the interior volume is defined; winding at least one layer of FRP material onto at least a portion of the at least partially cured FRP structures once coupled to each other; and applying a curing cycle to cure the resulting assembly.

A method for managing the filling levels of a plurality of tanks arranged in a ship, said tanks being connected in such a way as to allow liquid to be transferred between said tanks, the method comprising providing an initial state (7) of the tanks, determining a target state (8) defining respective final filling levels of said tanks, determining a liquid transfer scenario (9), the transfer scenario defining one or more flows of liquid to be transferred between the tanks during a transfer period in order to shift from the initial state to the target state of the tanks, calculating a probability of damage to the tanks (10) during the course of said transfer scenario, as a function of successive filling levels of the tanks during the transfer period, if the probability of damage to the tanks satisfies an acceptance criterion, transferring (13) the liquid between the tanks in accordance with said transfer scenario.

A Liquid Natural Storage (LNG) tank comprising an outer mechanical support structure (20) providing a closed space housing a membrane wall of the cryogenic tank is disclosed. Spacer elements (21) is supporting a membrane wall constituted by a mixture of steel plates, steel rods, wooden beams and plywood plates.

A sealed and thermally insulating storage tank for a fluid that is anchored in a load-bearing structure built into a ship, the ship having a longitudinal direction, the tank having a loading/unloading tower suspended from a ceiling wall of the load-bearing structure, the loading/unloading tower including first, second and third vertical pylons defining a prism of triangular section, the loading/unloading tower carrying at least a first pump, the tank having a support foot that is fastened to the load-bearing structure, the tank having at least one sump, the first pump being arranged outside the triangular prism and being aligned with the support foot in a first transverse plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the ship.

A sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid, the tank being anchored in a load-bearing structure, the tank having a loading/unloading tower suspended from a ceiling wall of the load-bearing structure, the tank having a support foot that is fastened to the load-bearing structure in a zone of a bottom wall of the tank, the support foot being arranged to guide a vertical translational movement of the loading/unloading tower, the tank having at least one sump that is formed in the bottom wall of the tank, the bottom wall of the tank having a corrugated sealing membrane that is intended to be in contact with the fluid having at least first corrugations extending in a first direction and spaced apart from one another, the sump and the support foot are spaced apart by a distance at least three first corrugations pass between the sump and the support foot.

A large volume natural gas storage tank comprises rigid tubular walls having closed tubular cross-sections that are interconnected at opposing ends with two other rigid tubular walls such that interiors of the rigid tubular walls define an interior fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes bulkheads positioned in the interior fluid storage chamber across intermediate segments of the rigid tubular walls and closure plates connected between exterior surfaces of successive interconnected rigid tubular walls to define sides of the storage tank. Interior surfaces of the closure plates and exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls define an auxiliary fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes exterior support structures extending through the closure plates and between the exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls on some of the sides of the storage tank to reinforce the storage tank against dynamic loading from fluid in the interior fluid storage chamber.

A Liquid Natural Storage (LNG) tank comprising an outer mechanical support structure (20) providing a closed space housing a membrane wall of the cryogenic tank is disclosed. Spacer elements (21) is supporting a membrane wall constituted by a mixture of steel plates, steel rods, wooden beams and plywood plates.

A method for managing the filling levels of a plurality of tanks arranged in a ship, said tanks being connected in such a way as to allow liquid to be transferred between said tanks, the method comprising providing an initial state (7) of the tanks, determining a target state (8) defining respective final filling levels of said tanks, determining a liquid transfer scenario (9), the transfer scenario defining one or more flows of liquid to be transferred between the tanks during a transfer period in order to shift from the initial state to the target state of the tanks, calculating a probability of damage to the tanks (10) during the course of said transfer scenario, as a function of successive filling levels of the tanks during the transfer period, if the probability of damage to the tanks satisfies an acceptance criterion, transferring (13) the liquid between the tanks in accordance with said transfer scenario.