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Page
GUIDE DOCUMENT GE P312 3.4.7 v o 1/8

PROCESS GUIDE S.S. 4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
OFFSITES

PROCESS GUIDE

PART 3 - SECTION 4 : OFFSITES

S.S. 4.7 - REFRIGERATED STORAGE FACILITIES

CHAPTER V -REFRIGERATED STORAGE FACILITIES

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PROCESS GUIDE S.S. 4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
OFFSITES

CONTENT

1. REFRIGERATED STORAGE TANKS

1.1. Single containment storage tanks

1.2. Double containment storage tanks
1.3. Full containment storage tanks
1.4. Membrane storage tanks
1.5. Buried tank in frozen soil
1.6. Thermal losses

2. COLD HOLDING

2.1. Without reliquefaction

2.2. Open refrigerating system
2.3. Refrigeration closed circuit

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PROCESS GUIDE 5.5.4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
OFFSITES

This type of storage facilities includes large capacity storage facilities handling liquefied gas or
those used for shipping by atmospheric tankers.

According to the product stored, several technologies can be used for tank construction.

The above ground refrigerated storage tanks are categorized, depending on their ability to retain
accidental leakage of liquid and gas, into: single containment, double containment and full
containment storage tanks.

1. REFRIGERATED STORAGE TANKS

1.1. Single containment storage tanks

Single containment storage tank is designed so that only the inner liquid tank is built of materials
suitable for low temperature.

It can be a single wall tank with external insulation or a double wall tank with the outer wall
designed only for the protection of thermal insulation and not to contain product leaks.

Single containment tank must be surrounded by a low earth bund or concrete wall, similar to
atmospheric oil storage tanks.

Typical configurations are shown below:

EXIERNAL
INSUIATION
EXIERNAL WEATHER BARRIER

BASE INSUIATION LPG

BUND BOTIOMHEATER

SINGlE CONTAINMENT REFRIGERATED TANK - SINGlE WAIL

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PROCESS GUIDE S.S. 4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
OFFSITES

OUIER. SHEIL-
(NOTABIEID
mNTAINUQUID SUSPENDED ROOF
(INSUIATED)

LNGIEIINLENE
BASE INSUIATION

SINGlE CONTAINMENT REFRIGERA1ED TANK. - roUBlE WALL

This type of tank is normally suitable for storage of LNG and LPG.

The tank foundation normally includes a reinforced concrete slab to protect the base insulation
from damage and deterioration of performance due to excessive ground deflection.

The tank foundations supported by ground require heating.

Typical power required for heating of the foundation is 25 W per square meter and it is generally
considered to maintain the soil temperature above 4°C. Absence or failure of heating of ground
supported foundation could eventually lead to formation of an ice lens under the tank, which may
cause excessive base deformation and damage. Tanks which are constructed on elevated foundation
do not require heated foundation (natural air ventilation eliminates the need to provide a heating
system).

The inner tank, which is the only container designed for low temperature, must be made from
superior quality of steel (carbon-manganese steel, low nickel steel, 9% nickel steel, aluminum or
stainless steel, depending on the low design temperature).

The external wall, whose purpose is as a rule to contain and protect insulation, can be made of low
thickness standard steel.

Utilization of a suspended roof allows a part of the compressive stress and negative compressive
stress to be transferred to the external wall, and thus enables to cut weight of the inner containment,
which is constructed with costly materials. In this option, there are no pressure balancing problem
between containments, but there is a risk of destruction of insulation and of the external wall in
case of overflow.

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PROCESS GUIDE S.S. 4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
OFFSITES

1.2. Double containment storage tanks

Since the early seventies, it has gradually become the usual practice to surround the primary liquid
containment with a secondary shell.

Double containment tanks are designed so that both the inner and outer walls are capable of
containing the refrigerated liquid, but the outer wall is open top and not designed to contain vapor
generated by the leakage. The outer wall should be no further than 6 m from the inner tank wall in
order to limit the vapor release to atmosphere. In this configuration, no low earth bund or concrete
wall is required. Typical configuration is shown herebelow :

ROOF -(IF REQUIRED SUSPENDED ROOF

(INSUIATED)
LOOSEFIIL
INSUIATION PRES1RESSED CONCREIE
OUTER WAIL
OUIER. SHEIL- CONCREIE
(NOTABlE1D INNER. OUTER BASE
CONTAINUQUID). TANK
'.
BASEINSUIATION-=~~'·~"_~"~"~"~j'~"'~~~"W.~.~~BOT1DM~TIR

DOUBIE CONTAINMENT REFRIGERATED TANK

This type of tank is suitable for storage of LNG, whose vapor is lighter than air and can disperse
quickly from the annular space between the two walls. It must be questioned for storage of LPG
whose vapors are heavier than air and can get collected, unless ventilated, in the annulus and create
an explosive atmosphere.

Depending on the low design temperature, the inner tank may be made from carbon-manganese
steel, low nickel steel, 9% nickel steel, aluminum or stainless steel.

The external, open top, wall is constructed either as self supporting pre-stressed concrete or as
reinforced concrete with an earthen embankment (this embankment runs to the full height of the
outer tank and protects it against the liquid impact which would follow the failure of the inner tank
wall).

Pre-stressed concrete tanks are normally selected rather than reinforced concrete tanks for
economic reasons.

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PROCESS GUIDE S.S. 4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
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Note that use of steel external, open top, walls (same kind of materials as used for the inner tank) is
allowed, but this is not common practice.

For the design of the tank foundation, the same considerations as those set out for the single
containment tank are applicable, including the requirement for heating or suitable natural
ventilation.

1.3. Full containment storage tanks

Full containment storage tank is designed so that both the inner and outer tanks are capable of
containing the refrigerated liquid and the outer tank is capable of holding and venting in a
controlled way the cold vapor generated.

In this case, the gap between the two shells is 1 to 2 meters.

In this configuration, no low earth bund or concrete wall is required.

Typical configuration is shown below:

REINFORED LOOSE FIlL INSUIATION

CONCREIEROOF OREMPfY, DEPENDING
ONPRODUcrSTORED
SUSPENDED ROOF -
@m~~~~----(INSUIATIID)

INSUIATIONON PRE-S1RESSED CONCREIE

INSIDE OF OUTER OUTER. TANK WAIL
TANK WAIL

B~EINSUIATION _____~~~~====~~_~BanDM~llR

REINFORED
CONCREIEB~E

FULL CONTAINMENT REFRIGERAlED TANK

This type of tank is quite suitable for LNG and LPG storage. It has been frequently selected over
the recent period, for LNG storage. Its safety ratio is also comparatively high (it holds liquids and
controls vapor release). It is also often considered for LPG storage.

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PROCESS GUIDE S.S. 4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
OFFSITES

The cost of this type of tank is however higher than for the other types (single containment, double
containment) described above.
The inner tank may be made of carbon-manganese, low nickel steel, 9% nickel steel, aluminum, or
stainless steel, depending on the low design temperature.

The external (secondary) wall is constructed either as self-standing pre-stressed concrete, or as

reinforced concrete with earthen embankment. Pre-stressed concrete tanks are normally selected
rather than reinforced concrete tanks for economic reasons.

Use of steel external walls (same kind of materials as used for the inner tank) is allowed, but this is
not current practice.

For the design of the tank foundation, the same considerations as those set out for the single
containment tank are applicable, including the requirement regarding the supply of a heating
system or suitable natural ventilation.

1.4. Membrane storage tanks

The metal membrane construction technique was initially used for ships carrying LNG, but it has
been adjusted to onshore storage. Membrane tank consists of a pre-stressed concrete outer tank,
lined with load bearing insulation panels (shell, bottom). These panels support a thin gas and liquid
tight membrane (about 1 mm thick).

The membrane is made from 304 stainless steel or from a low expansion nickel alloy such as Invar.

1.5. Bnried tank in frozen soil

This type of storage is not frequently used: it is mentioned on record.

Frozen soil forms the walls and bottom of the tank. The tank is covered with a gas tight metal or
concrete roof. There is no insulation, since frozen soil plays the part of insulation. It is LNG
evaporation that keeps walls frozen.

16. Thermal losses

The lower the temperature level, the lower the evaporation from tanks, since then re-liquefaction
becomes gradually more difficult. Consequently, the insulation thickness and its grade shall be
increased as storage temperature gets lower.

Allowed evaporation is therefore 0.09 to 0.15% for ammonia, LPG, ethylene, storage, etc ... This
value must be lowered to 0.06% for LNG storage.

Buried storage facilities are specific. There is no insulation and frozen soil acts as insulation.
Balance is only reached after 3 to 5 years. Sometimes, evaporation similar to overhead tanks can be
obtained, and frozen soil thickness reaches then 20 to 30 m.

But, during the temperature lowering period, when the frozen soil layer gets thicker, which lasts a
few years, the daily evaporation rate can reach 0.8% of the storage capacity. This explains why
some operators have had to close down some storage facilities of this type used for LPG.

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PROCESS GUIDE S.S. 4.7 - Refrigerated storage facilities

PART 3 - SECTION 4 CHAPTER V - Refrigerated storage facilities
OFFSITES

2. COLD HOLDING

2.1. Without reliquefaction

In the case of comparatively low cost products, whose liquefaction is difficult, such as natural gas,
cold holding is ensured by product evaporation. In the case of natural gas, vapor is re-compressed
at a pressure of a few bars prior to being sent into the fuel gas system of the liquefaction plant. In
the tanker terminal, it may be recompressed at high pressure to feed the distribution system. In case
of excess, it is sent to flare.

The same system can be used for ethylene through recompression of vapors prior to sending them
to the consumer or, if applicable, prior to returning them into the steamcracker cycle.

2.2. Open refrigerating system

Stored product vapors are recompressed and condensed by water or air. This is of course only
possible for gases with a critical temperature above current temperature. In the opposite case, in the
case of ethylene in particular, condensation is only possible with a second closed refrigeration
cycle, using propylene, propane or freon.

In the case of natural gas storage, several cycles would be necessary. So, vapor from tanks is not
re-liquefied. Moreover, in the case of natural gas with a substantial nitrogen content, vapors
emitted have a high nitrogen content, their heating value is low, and their re-liquefaction is
difficult.

2.3. Refrigeration closed circuit

This system must be used for storage of incompressible products, such as butadiene.

As in the case of semi-refrigerated storage facilities, it is possible to condense vapors through

circulation of spraying of sub-cooled liquid, or with a surface condenser in the tank ullage space,
with, in this case, problems of inert gas accumulation.

It is hardly possible to condense vapors in an exchanger outside the tank since this causes very
acute problems of control and vacuum creation in the receiving drum. In this case, it is necessary to
add a blower that discharges vapors emitted at a pressure of 0.5 to 1 bar gage. This case can be
compared to the open cycle design with condensation on a closed cycle.

Cold holding cycles for atmospheric storage facilities have a comparatively limited capacity, which
seldom justify the installation of centrifugal compressors, which, besides, lack flexibility for
operation at limited capacity.

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