Qualities of a Good Carbon Dioxide Storage Tank

July 28, 2013

Colourless and odourless, we know carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas and a key part of our own respiratory cycle. It's also used in numerous commercial and industrial applications. Check out CO2 lasers, polymer synthesis, and beverage carbonation for more data on the countless usage domains. A properly designed carbon dioxide storage tank is therefore and essential part of these applications, as the gas has to be amassed before it can be used.

Alloy-Strengthened Shells

Carbon dioxide won't catch fire, but the gas does possess other dangerous attributes. It's invisible, so leaks aren't always obvious. CO2 is also stored at extremely low temperatures, so a carbon steel shell is recommended. This alloy is approved for use in cryogenic facilities, so it can capably handle pressurized carbon dioxide, even when the temperature dips very low. Brittle materials need not apply, in this case, for the combination of external heat and internal pressure will cause product vaporization. The strength of the weld seams and the quality of the rolled metal protects against rupture events.

When is an Inert Gas Hazardous?

Environmental factors challenge the containment facility, even though we're referring to a naturally occurring atmospheric gas. Carbonic acid, for example, is a popular part of the soft drinks industry, but it has no place in a storage yard. But this is exactly what happens when carbon dioxide is exposed to a humid environment. The liquid acid is weak, of course, but it will corrode metal fixtures over time.

Low-Temp Hazard Avoidance Strategies

When low temperatures are employed, a new set of hazardous variables come to light. Explosive risks are still present because pressurized fluids are contained, but there's no flammable content to worry about. Instead, the design incorporates materials that insulate against subzero temperatures. The carbon steel shell is typically coated in a urethane insulant, a polyurethane foam that keeps the CO2 medium below minus twenty-nine degrees celsius. Additionally, low-temperature extremes partner with up to 2150 kPa of pressurized vapour, so the tanks must be equipped with pressure protecting aids, including relief valves and pressure gauges.

It's true that a carbon dioxide storage tank doesn't act as a barrier against some combustible or toxic chemical compound, but the gas is stored at great pressure and it does change state several times, from liquid to solid. That same cold environment produces dry ice, a cryonics material that can cause frostbite. The vessel must deal with both the pressure and the freezing cold, which means a strong carbon steel is required if material brittleness is to be eliminated.

Contact Details

Fusion - Weld Engineering Pty Ltd
ABN 98 068 987619

1865 Frankston Flinders Road,
Hastings, VIC 3915

Ph: (03) 5909 8218

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