Cryogenic tanks

Cryogenic tanks are key element to store certain gases, is an essential part for many industries.

Use and utility of cryogenic tanks:

1. Cryogenic tanks are a type of industrial storage tank ideal for situations where large
quantities of gas need to be stored in liquid form.
2. They are the right solution to store substances such as Liquid Oxygen, Liquid Nitrogen,
Argon, C02, LNG, LPG, Liquid Hydrogen, etc., all of which must be stored at very low
temperatures to maintain their properties.
3. As more and more industries require the gases mentioned above, demand for cryogenic
tanks keeps growing and is projected to grow at a higher rate than 5% CAGR between
2020 and 2026.

The main characteristics of an adequate cryogenic storage tank include:

1. They are versatile
2. They provide an optimal internal distribution and thus optimize resources.
3. They allow for the installation of a centralized network for the optimal distribution of the
different cryogenic gases used, so that there is no gas return to the plant.
4. Improved loading process using vaporizers, so that the liquid gas passes directly from the
production plant to the user, avoiding sudden movements and improving stability and
safety.
5. Higher purity than other storage systems, as the gas remains isolated in a hermetically
sealed tank so that the possibility of contamination with any external agents is minimized.
6. Because they’re hermetically sealed, they remain stable and thus are safer than other
storage alternatives.

Types of cryogenic tanks

A. The structure for cryogenic tanks is made of three parts:
 1. An inner vessel made of stainless steel and designed to withstand very low temperatures.
2. An outer vessel made of carbon steel.
3. In order to guarantee cryogenic temperatures and safety, these two vessels are insulated
from each other by a combination of materials that provide such insulation.
B. In addition to these two containers, a cryogenic storage tank is also equipped with a pressure
regulation system, which is specifically designed to ensure that the cryogenic tank always
operates at a constant pressure. At the same time, this pressure is set with the user’s needs in
mind.
C. While cryogenic tanks have this basic structure in common, it’s possible to distinguish
between two types of cryogenic container:
1. Flat-bottom cryogenic tanks, such as the flat-bottomed tanks.
2. Large vacuum-insulated cryogenic pressure vessels, such as the new vacuum insulated
vessels

How to choose a cryogenic container?

A. Depending on the substance to be stored
1. When choosing cryogenic tanks, companies must consider what substances they need to
store, and communicate it to the tanks manufacturer.
2. Different substances will require a different tank shape and design, so that it perfectly
adapts to the cryogenic liquid it will need to store.
3. Some common substances that require a cryogenic container include:
 LIN (liquid nitrogen)
 LOX (Liquid Oxygen)
 LAR (Liquid Argon)
 CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
 LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
 LHe (Liquid Helium)
 LH2 (Liquid Hydrogen)
 LPG ( Liquefied Petroleum Gas)
 Liquid Ethylene
B. Depending on the size
Different companies will be in need of different tank sizes, depending on their substance
demand and use, among other factors. At Cryospain we are specialized in tanks for large
quantities >500 m3

C. Depending on the material

Stainless steel and carbon steel are the main two materials for building cryogenic tanks. At
the same time, different insulating materials can be used: from cellular glass, to rockwool and
 expanded perlite. Thus, each project must be studied separately, in order to ensure the right
materials are used.

D. Other considerations
Other criteria to pick the right cryogenic tanks can include:
1. The need to comply with national and/or international regulations.
2. The geographical location where the tanks will be installed. For instance, seismic criteria
must be considered. The difficulty to access the are might also present a challenge, like it
did when Cryospain built a flat-bottom cryogenic tank in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
At Linde, we develop custom large vacuum-insulated cryogenic storage vessels, all according to
our clients’ needs as well as international and local regulations.
We are in charge of designing these cryogenic tanks from the first sketches through to
construction and commissioning, coordinating our design, engineering and production teams.
In order to take into account our clients’ needs and to guarantee a smooth implementation, we
provide a careful design process through computer-aided systems, which provide virtual
simulations of the future cryogenic tanks.