System for transferring fluid, e.g. liquefied natural gas, between fluid transport vessel and storage point, e.g. storage vessel, comprises flexible fluid transfer pipe

摘要

During transfer, a flexible transfer pipe (5) is suspended freely between its two ends. One end connects to a manifold (9) on the transfer vessel (1) and the other to a tidying device (6) at the storage point. A spoked wheel pivots about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the water and rotates about an axis parallel to the plane, so the pipe is coiled around the wheel rim when not in use. A flexible fluid transfer pipe is suspended freely between a transport vessel and a storage point. The storage point includes a tidying device for the flexible pipe in the rest state where one end of the pipe is connected whilst the other end can be at least partially uncoiled from the device to be connected to a manifold on the transport vessel. Each end of the flexible pipe has a joint which can turn in a vertical axis to avoid torsion and distortion of the pipe. The pivoting axis for the tidying wheel forms the vertical axis of the joint. The rim (42) of the wheel has on its external peripheral face a circumferential groove for the pipe to seat into and the wheel includes an anti-de-rimming device for the pipe, which is a guiding and holding case (59) for the pipe mounted to pivot around an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel in the median plane of the rim, radially outwards from it on a support (57) fixed to the wheel. The flexible pipe is made of a flexible such as a cryogenic flexible designed for the transfer of liquefied natural gas, or is a succession of elements articulated relative to each other, and is suspended in a catenary. The manifold on the transfer vessel is in an advantageously arched position with a union at its free end for connection to the pipe and a joint at the other end rotating about a vertical axis and connecting to the vessel's pipework.