Transportation of the large size unit consisting of a storage tank and a base slab
A method and apparatus for transporting a liquid gas container is described herein. The liquid gas container is transported at an increased internal pressure. Transporting the liquid gas container at an increased internal pressure distributes the downward load of the liquid gas container, such that the downward load of the liquid gas container is distributed more evenly or so that a greater amount of the downward load is felt in the center of the liquid gas container compared to the outer portion of the liquid gas container. This enables transport without cracking of a base support slab during transit when the support slab is only able to be supported from the center due to narrow road conditions.
1 . A method of transporting a liquid gas container comprising:
pressurizing an inside cavity of the liquid gas container to a pressure, the liquid gas container comprising a support slab and at least one shell disposed on top of the support slab, wherein increasing the pressure within the inside cavity redistributes a downward load of the liquid gas container from an outer edge towards a center of the liquid gas container by creating an uplift of one or more edges of a support slab;
loading the liquid gas container onto a transport vehicle; and
transporting the liquid gas container from a first location to a second location while pressurized.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein before pressurizing the inside cavity of the liquid gas container, the pressure of the inside cavity is greater than about 4 psi.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein prior to being pressurized, the inside cavity is filled with air.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid gas container comprises at least one shell forming the inside cavity and the shell is formed of a cryogenic metal material.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the liquid gas container further comprises a support slab on which the at least one shell is disposed and where the support slab supports a downward load of the liquid gas container.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the support slab is a reinforced concrete slab, a pre-stressed concrete slab, a perlite concrete slab, or a structural slab with steel grillage.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the support slab is circular or polygonal and the at least one shell is a vertical cylinder circular.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a mass of the liquid gas container is greater than 2500 metric tons.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the cryogenic metal material is a cryogenic steel.
10 . A method of transporting a container comprising:
pressurizing an inside cavity of the container to a pressure, the container comprising a support slab and at least one shell disposed on top of the support slab, wherein increasing the pressure within the inside cavity redistributes a downward load of the container from an outer edge towards a center of the container by creating an uplift of one or more edges of the support slab;
loading the container onto a transport vehicle; and
transporting the container from a first location to a second location while pressurized and while an outer perimeter portion extends outward from a support surface of the transport vehicle, such that at least a portion of the support slab overhangs from the support surface of the transport vehicle.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a width of one or both of the support slab and the at least one shell is greater than 20 meters in a direction perpendicular to a direction of travel during transporting of the container and a mass of the container is greater than 2500 metric tons.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the container is a refrigerated liquid gas container.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the container is a refrigerated liquid gas container and includes one or more insulation layers around an inner shell of the at least one shell.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein one or more stand-by compressors are utilized to maintain an internal pressure in the inside cavity during transporting of the container.
15 . A method of transporting a liquid gas container comprising:
pressurizing an inside cavity of the liquid gas container to a pressure, the liquid gas container comprising a support slab and at least one shell disposed on top of the support slab, wherein increasing the pressure within the inside cavity redistributes a downward load of the liquid gas container from an outer edge towards a center of the liquid gas container by creating an uplift of one or more edges of the support slab;
loading the liquid gas container onto a transport vehicle; and
transporting the liquid gas container from a first location to a second location while pressurized, the liquid gas container comprising at least one cryogenic metal shell forming the inside cavity and a support slab which supports a downward load of the cryogenic metal shell.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a mass of the liquid gas container is greater than 2500 metric tons.