Tanks and Cylinders

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All gases and liquids produced in gas plants need to stored properly. In some cases, the pure form of gas is distributed through pipelines to the desired destinations. But in most cases, the gases thus produced are stored in tanks or cylinders. While tanks are large sized storing vessels for holding liquids and gases, cylinders are small sized storages and are easily portable.

Industrial Gas Tanks

A container or a construction in spherical or cylindrical in shape, tanks can be mounted in fixed areas as stationary vessels or on railroad car and truck chassis for easy transportation. Tanks are available in various sizes, ranging from 300 gallons to 420,000 gallons. The unit measure of capacity of tanks for gases is usually the gallon. One basic reason for the shape of a tank to be cylindrical, or to have rounded corners is to withstand hydraulic pressure of contained liquid/gas. A large tank when mounted on a lorry trailer is called a tanker. 

These tanks or tankers are designed in such a way so that they can deal with a heavy sloshing load and the risk of collision or other accident. Some of these include and LNG carriers, railroad tank cars, ocean-going oil tankers, the road and highway traveling tank trucks. Some common styles of tanks are standard, vapor tight, cone bottom, and open top.

Cylinders

Cylinders are specially designed pressure vessels used to store gases at high pressure. In other words, cylinders are storage containers of liquefied gas such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen or natural gas or a compressed gas or ultra high purity gases or specialty gases like standards mixed gases, electronic gases, chemical gases. 

These gases are distributed by cylinders under pressure. These cylinders are built in such a way so that they can withstand the sometimes immense pressures exerted by the contents. In order to avoid hazardous situations and for ready identification, it is essential that all cylinders are identified by name gas (by color or label).

Materials of Construction 

Steel is the most common material for the construction of cylinders and tanks. GRP, fibreglass, aluminum, and thermoplastic tanks are increasing in popularity. These tanks and cylinders have greater chemical resistance, especially for storage of specialty chemicals and gases. The space between inner and outer surface of a tank are vacuum and usually contains insulated powder to protect heat transfer from outside. Safety relief valves are there to protect the tanks and cylinders for the pressure and temperatures involved.

Linings and Coatings

• Epoxy
• Glass
• Cement
• Galvanizing
• Polyurethane foam