Storage tank with liquid insulator for storing cryogenic fluids using water displacement

Patent · Tue Jun 24 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6594825

McCabe, J S; Stafford, D C; Laverman, R J

For storing cryogenic liquids such as LNG at or slightly above atmospheric pressure, this design uses a tank with insulated vertical walls and an insulated top located in and surrounded by a body of water in communication with a layer of water inside the tank; the level of the tank contents can thus be controlled using the water-displacement principle. A layer of insulating liquid having a specific gravity lower than water and higher than LNG (or the cryogenic liquid being stored) separates the water and LNG while remaining liquid at the cryogenic temperature; the insulating liquid - pentanes, particularly isopentane, are suitable - must be essentially immiscible with water, LNG, or both. For preventing turbulent mixing of the water and LNG while the tank is being filled or emptied, a float in the form of a closed or open shell made partially or entirely of insulating material extends over the water layer and contains the insulating liquid.

• Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4209271
• OSTI ID: 6594825
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
035000* -- Natural Gas-- Storage-- (1989-)
ALKANES
CONTAINERS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENTANE
STORAGE
TANKS
THERMAL INSULATION
WATER