Tank for storing cryogenic fluids and method for constructing a fluid tight tank
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a tank ( 11 ) for storage of cryogenic fluids. The tank ( 11 ) comprises a base section ( 12 ), a vertical wall element ( 14 ) and preferably an upper top ( 19 ). The tank ( 11 ) is provided with a fluid tight barrier ( 26 ) intended to prevent the stored fluids to escape to the surroundings. The fluid tight barrier ( 26 ) is formed of thin metal plates joined together. At least the vertical wall ( 14 ) comprises an inner structurally supporting wall element ( 24 ) and an outer structurally supporting wall element ( 25 ). The fluid tight barrier ( 26 ) is arranged between the inner ( 24 ) and the outer ( 25 ) structurally supporting wall element. The invention relates also to a method for constructing such tank ( 11 ), where the base part ( 12 ) is firstly erected whereupon a vertical wall ( 14 ) is concreted, preferably by means of slipforming or jumpforming. Firstly, the inner structurally supporting wall element ( 24 ) of the wall ( 14 ) is reinforced and concreted, whereupon a fluid tight barrier ( 26 ) is arranged on the external side of the inner structurally supporting wall element ( 24 ), whereupon the outer structurally supporting wall element ( 25 ) is reinforced and concreted.
1. A tank assembly adapted to store cryogenic fluids, comprising
a tank having a base plate and a vertical wall, the tank being provided with a fluid tight barrier preventing stored fluids from escaping out of the tank,
wherein the vertical wall comprises an inner structurally supporting wall element made of concrete, an outer structurally supporting wall element made of concrete, and an intermediate fluid tight barrier comprising a membrane interposed between the inner structurally supporting wall element and the outer structurally supporting wall element,
wherein an inner surface of the intermediate fluid tight barrier comprises a membrane that is in direct contact with an outer surface of the inner structurally supporting wall element such that the assembly of the intermediate fluid tight barrier and the inner wall element is adapted to restrain the membrane of the intermediate fluid tight barrier from contracting in a radial direction inwards when the tank is filled with the cryogenic fluids,
wherein the structurally supporting wall elements and the intermediate fluid tight barrier together form a compact, structurally integrated and fluid tight wall, and
wherein the vertical wall, at its lower end, is terminated by a horizontal metal plate and inner and an outer vertical steel plates extending along an inner and outer circumference of the vertical wall, the vertical steel plates being welded to the horizontal metal plate.
2. The tank of claim 1 , wherein the inner vertical steel plate is secured to the inner structurally supporting wall element of the inner wall and rigidly fixed to the horizontal metal plate, and the outer vertical steel plate is secured to the outer structurally supporting wall element.
3. The tank of claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer vertical steel plates are adapted to transfer forces from the horizontal metal plate to the outer structurally supporting wall element caused by different contraction of elements of the inner wall of the tank due to cooling caused by filling of cryogenic fluid into the tank.
4. Tank according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid tight barrier is in direct contact with an inner surface of the outer structurally supporting wall element.
5. Tank according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane interposed between the inner structurally supporting wall element and the outer structurally supporting wall element is made of steel or plastic material.