As part of our work in cryogenic engineering, at Cryospain we work to adapt our designs and processes to the needs of each project. A recent example of this capability is our intervention in the design, manufacture, transportation and assembly of a flat-bottom tank for LIN (liquid nitrogen) in Pittsburg (USA).
Located in an area of high incidence of seismic accelerations, this project tested our ability to adapt to these particular design requirements.
In this case, we work for one of the leading gas companies in the market, focused on the distribution of liquefied air gasses. Due to their field of work, they have experience in the cryogenic sector and in the provision of facilities for the production, treatment, storage and distribution of these gasses in a large number of sectors (from refineries, to petrochemical plants as well as the mining, metallurgy, manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical sectors).
Complying with seismic construction regulations and codes, using seismic structural design techniques and providing the structure with adequate flexibility are just some of the specific requirements that we have had to rigorously address in this project. Keep reading to find out more.
The development of the flat-bottom tank, step by step
With the completion date set in June 2025, Cryospain’s involvement in this project has been comprehensive, including the design, procurement, manufacturing and supply of the cryogenic tank.
The development is planned around the following stages:
- Beginning in November 2023, the first stage considered the seismic and mechanical design of the deposit, taking into account that it will be located in an area with a high rate of seismic accelerations. In this stage, we proceeded to apply detailed engineering for manufacturing and material specification. Both steps took place at Cryospain’s facilities in Pinto (Madrid) and were based on the client’s specifications, in addition to API620 and API62 design codes.
- After completing this process, the manufacturing of all the elements and their integration with valves and instrumentation begins in the Cryospain workshop in Pinto, (Madrid). A series of staggered deliveries are planned starting in June 2024
- The shipping of the material by sea to the work site takes place consequently
- Tank assembly operations ensue, with full-time supervision from one of our cryogenic tank experts
- Functional verification tests are performed based on API620 and API625 design codes
With a capacity of 1,382 m3, the resulting tank will consist of a low-pressure flat-bottom tank with double-wall insulation. In order to guarantee the best conditions, the interior of the tank will be made of A240 TP 304 stainless steel and the exterior will incorporate a carbon steel protection. The thermal insulation will be complete: the tank will include perlite insulation on the walls and cellular glass at the bottom of the tank.
Would you like to learn more about Cryospain’s work in developing cutting-edge cryogenic tanks? Discover our cryogenic tank project for an air separation plant, our LIN and LOX storage tanks in Russia or get in touch with us to talk to our team about how we can help you.
