Storage facility for the storage of highly volatile hydrocarbons
Inactive Publication Date: 2017-10-26
IMHOF HEINRICH
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- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
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Benefits of technology
The present invention addresses the issue of reducing emissions and fire risks in storage facilities. It does this by connecting the fittings of a round container to a vapor line, which is then connected to a separate vapor equalization container. This results in a closed system that separates the atmosphere from the stored product. By using the vapor line to equalize vapors, the round container and the vapor equalization container can simultaneously act as a sampling, sounding, measuring, and / or guide tube or roof support, reducing emissions. Additionally, the invention allows for more flexibility in the storage space and the use of emissions for energy.
Problems solved by technology
Even after 100 years of development of storage concepts, these storage containers still operate under temporarily increased emissions and associated fire risks.
Storage of volatile hydrocarbons in closed containers, without a floating cover, and instead with vapor balancing and vapor recovery, which is also used, leads to a great deal of effort in the treatment of large amounts of vapor due to the daily “breathing” of the containers and is not attractive or not economical for large container volumes.
The storage of highly volatile hydrocarbons results in multiple problems that arise with existing storage facilities.
Multiple problems result from the storage of highly volatile hydrocarbons with existing storage facilities.
The first set of problems is vapor escaping in special operating situations, the extreme heat-up of the contents of the storage containers on summer days, the unintentional introduction of air or vapors when filling the container (e.g., during ship unloading or from a pipeline), the introduction of overly warm storage products, and the pressure release of supplied storage products.
The resulting excess vapors escape from overpressure fittings and from the edge areas of the floating covers which in extreme cases can lead to lifting the cover off the stored liquid with the potential for serious damage to the storage container up to the risk of fire hazards.
A second set of problems is that the container volume cannot be completely utilized since the floating cover loses its emission-limiting effect as soon as the liquid level in the container drops below the support height of the floating cover with which the floating cover rests on the bottom of the container.
In this case, air from the atmosphere replaces the removed storage liquid and, when the container is subsequently filled, leads to necessary vapor emissions, which can be up to one kilogram of stored product per cubic meter of air.
A third problem to be mentioned is that, in order to minimize the emissions mentioned above in the context of the second set of problems, floating roof tanks (which do not have a fixed tank roof) are in particular provided with height-adjustable float roof supports with which the floating roof is supported on the bottom of the container when the liquid level is low.
The adjustment of the floating roof supports is associated with risks for the assembly personnel as well as with fire hazards.
Frequently, concentric tubes that can slide in relation to each other (leg and supporting jacket tube) are used for the floating-roof supports, which corrode and are then difficult to move.
However, if additionally the tank has a fixed roof and an inner floating cover, the adjustability of the supports is often omitted, since the necessary work with a filled tank and a closed space is already too high a risk.
A further, fourth set of problems can be observed in the fact that the gas space under the floating cover has to be degassed after a complete emptying of the container for an intended repair.
For larger containers, this work can take several weeks and leads to enormous costs and to safety risks.
Another, fifth set of problems is the fact that the enormous effort involved in completely emptying the containers not only entails enormous costs and risks, but also a major hindrance for a flexible reallocation of the tank space for a possible product change.
Method used
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[0043]The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are designated with the same reference numerals.
[0044]The round container, which is illustrated in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 1 and is designated by the reference sign 1, constitutes an open floating roof tank and comprises a container base 2 and a vertical container wall 3. The liquid (highly volatile hydrocarbons) located in the container space 4 is covered by a floating cover 5.
[0045]The floating cover 5 is supported by a ring pontoon 6 above the liquid, which is arranged around the peripheral area of the floating cover 5. The annular space 8 remaining between the outer wall 7 of the floating cover 5 and the inner side of the container wall 3 is closed by flexible sealing elements 9, such that, on the one hand, no precipitation water can penetrate into the space below the floating cover 5, and on the other hand n...
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The invention relates to a storage facility for the storage of highly volatile hydrocarbons, comprising at least one vertical round tank (I) which is equipped with a floating cover (5), covering the liquid surface, in the form of a floating roof or a floating ceiling, wherein an annular space (8) formed between the cover (5) and tank wall (3) is sealed by means of flexible sealing elements (9) and wherein fittings (12, 13) for automatic control of overpressures and under pressures in the space (4) under the cover (5) are integrated into the cover (5). The fittings (12, 13) of the at least one round tank (I) are connected to a vapour line (14), the upper end of which is led out of the tank (1) and is in turn connected to a separate vapour expansion tank (15), wherein the round tank (I) and the vapour compensation tank (15) form a closed system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a storage facility the storage of highly volatile hydrocarbons with at least one vertical round container.[0002]The storage of highly volatile hydrocarbons in non-pressurized and aboveground storage tanks is generally done in vertical round containers with a flat bottom, which are fitted with floating covers to prevent emissions and fire risks. Large containers of this type are most often equipped as floating roof tanks without a fixed roof. Smaller storage containers as well as containers for finished products often have a fixed roof and are equipped with an internal floating cover.[0003]Even after 100 years of development of storage concepts, these storage containers still operate under temporarily increased emissions and associated fire risks.[0004]Storage of volatile hydrocarbons in closed containers, without a floating cover, and instead with vapor balancing and vapor recovery, which is also used, leads to a grea...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): B65D88/42B65D90/28B65D90/12B65D88/40B65D88/06B65D90/32B65D85/00
CPCB65D88/42B65D88/40B65D88/06B65D85/70B65D90/28B65D90/12B65D90/32
InventorIMHOF, HEINRICH
OwnerIMHOF HEINRICH