Vessels for liquefied petroleum gases LPG

Propane, butane and propane-butane mixtures are widely used in housing and communal services for autonomous gas supply, oil and gas industry and gas stations. Storage and delivery of liquefied gases is carried out in vessels for propane-butane (SUG).

The Saratov Reservoir Plant produces vessels for LPG (propane-butane mixture) storage of capacity from 4.2 m³ to 200 m³. They are produced both according to type sizes, and by individual order. At the Customer's request, our specialists produce gas holders (vessels for storage of LPG) of any size, having the required shell thickness and with the required technological equipment.

Design of vessels for LPG

They are horizontal cylindrical tanks with elliptical heads.

Vessels for LPG can be placed either above ground or underground depending on the operating conditions.

The underground installation of gasholders is carried out on saddle supports or platforms, the design of which is regulated by OST 26-2091-93 "Supports of horizontal vessels and apparatus. Construction".

Design of double-walled vessels for liquefied petroleum gas

It is also possible to manufacture double-walled vessels ("vessel-in-a-vessel") for propane-butane mixtures. The space between the walls is filled with liquid or nitrogen for additional protection against emergencies and leaks of the stored product.

It should be noted that they can store any gases, which vapor pressure at a certain temperature (+50°C) does not exceed the elasticity of propane-butane vapor, as well as light fractions of gasoline.

Manufacture of gasholders for liquefied gas

The Saratov Reservoir Plant has the necessary Certificates of Conformity for manufacture of LPG vessels.

For manufacture such vessels SUG two types of steel are used: 09G2S-6 (for operating temperature from -30°C to +50°C) and 09G2S-8 (for operating temperature from -60°C to +50°C).

Elliptical heads are manufactured in accordance with GOST 6533-78 "Elliptical flanged steel head for vessels, apparatus and boilers. The main dimensions". They are specially designed for pressure vessels, and are an ellipse and a cylindrical bead or non-bead part. They are produced either by the flanging method (cold knurling) or by stamping. The choice depends on the diameter and thickness of the metal. Edges are processed by plasma cutting or grinding for smooth joint with the shell.

The fittings for connecting process equipment are placed on the top of the vessel. At the Customer's request, vessels for LPG can be equipped with ladders, platforms, thermal insulation.

When designing and manufacturing vessels for liquefied gases, fire safety and leakproof should be provided, which is also achieved by installing additional shut-off safety and control valves (throttles, stopcocks, cocks).

Surface protection is carried out by applying a waterproof layer of composite materials to underground vessels for LPG and presizing and enamels of gray color to aboveground ones.

The production of aboveground and underground gasholders is regulated by state norms and rules:

• Industrial safety rules for hazardous industrial facilities, which use equipment operating under excessive pressure
• National State Standard (GOST R) 52630-2012 "Vessels and welded steel apparatus - General specifications (with Amendment No. 1)"
• Rules for design, fabrication and acceptance (PB) 03-584-03 "Rules for Design, Manufacture and Acceptance of Vessels and Apparatuses of Steel Welded"
• Federal rules and regulations (FNiP) "Safety rules for facilities using liquefied petroleum gases" (Order No. 558 of November 21, 2013)

Technical characteristics of pressure vessels SUG for liquefied petroleum gases storage

The vessels store propane-butane mixtures at a pressure of 1.6 MPa. Tank shell temperature should be in the range from -60°C to +50°C. If the ambient temperature exceeds the requirements, additional processing equipment is installed to heat operating product.

Gasholders for LPG should be operated in climatic regions of moderately cold and tropical climates in accordance with National State Standard (GOST) 15150-69.

Seismicity of operational areas should not exceed 7 points (according Construction rules and Regulations SniP II-7-81). Their operation is possible in more earthquake zone. Appropriate calculations should be made and correspond with normative documents.

All propane-butane storage vessels must undergo state expertise for external and internal coatings conformance, conformity of other parameters and characteristics with the relevant norms, rules and requirements for the operation of liquefied petroleum gas.