Cryogenic temperature tank wall and roof

LNG storage tanks in Poland

Thermal insulation tank wall and roof solutions for tanks operating at cryogenic temperatures. Our tank wall and roof systems will limit heat transfer and provide moisture, corrosion and mechanical resistance so that process control is assured.

Tanks with operating temperatures lower than - 50°C (-58°F) are often called cryogenic storage tanks, these can contain products like ethane, ethylene, LNG, oxygen, nitrogen, etc.

The generally adopted solution consists in building a tank with two walls between which expanded perlite is poured. The insulation can easily be one meter (3 feet) thick or more.

LNG tanks alongside the coast at Barcelona LNG
LNG tank roof

Typical construction types include:

A double steel tank:
  • The inside tank is constructed of specialized steel to withstand cryogenic temperatures.
  • The exterior tank is constructed of carbon steel.  
  • Perlite is in situ perlite between the two tanks and /or a bund wall is constructed around it.

A double containment tank:

  • The inside tank is constructed of specialized steel to withstand cryogenic temperatures.
  • The exterior tank is constructed of concrete with carbon steel or mastic liner on its inside face. 
  • Perlite poured in-situ between the two tanks
  • Cellular glass insulation is applied on the inner side liner of the outside concrete tank with the aim of protecting the liner and the concrete against the cryogenic thermal shock should the tank have a major failure, particularly what’s known as "brittle failure
     
  • a possible anti-corrosion layer on the surface to be insulated
  • one or several layers of FOAMGLAS® cellular glass adhered with PC® adhesive, the joints being filled with the same product
  • depending on the situation, a fabric reinforced coating or a metal jacket with necessary straps to keep it in place
     

Relevant documents
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