Gaseous chemicals are often converted into fluids to allow for easy transportation and storage and are known as liquefied natural gases (LNG). Storing and transporting liquid gas can be challenging and it is important to choose the right material. This article will outline some of the materials used for liquid gas storage and their benefits.
Why is Liquid Gas Storage Important?
The conversion process of natural gases into a liquid takes out precipitates and concentrates as well as gas components such as CO2 that are undesirable. The remaining gases are cooled to temperatures less than freezing minimizing how much pressure is needed for the liquid gas storage and transport components.
Liquid gas storage minimizes the combustibility of natural gases and the required size of cryogenic vessels as the particle concentrations are lower than gas counterparts.
Liquid gas storage has to be at temperatures of less than -196°C to keep their compressed, fluidic properties. Increased temperatures can increase the pressure in the storage vessel.
What Properties are Required for Liquid Gas Storage?
Materials that are used for liquid gas storage must meet exacting elemental standards to adhere to temperature-sensitive requirements. Some steel alloys are brittle and ductile when transitioning between phases, meaning they will crack or shatter at low temperatures. If the liquid gas storage materials become embrittled there is a significant risk of combustion.
The Best Materials for Liquid Gas Storage
Cryogenic steel plates are purposefully designed to mitigate the issues of liquid gas storage. They have been created using 9% steel grades, providing enhanced atomic slip structures for steel alloys. This attribute comes at no further expense for the mechanical strengths and weldability of traditional steel materials. This means manufacturers can form the material into optimal shape for transporting.
Masteel offers a range of cryogenic steel plates that are frequently used in liquid gas storage solutions. These steel plates come in a range of specifications, suitable for specific applications.
ASTM A553 Type 1
This material can operate at temperatures as low as -196°C and has high levels of weldability and strength. When this steel is quenched or tempered up to thicknesses as high as 100mm, this is a martensitic steel.
This steel is well suited to liquid gas storage, including gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon.
ASTM A533 Type 2
This material can operate at temperatures as low as -170°C and is a unique martensite as it is not hard or brittle. It is still strong and tough, meaning it is easy to form it into pressure vessels for liquid gas storage.
ASME A353
These cryogenic steel plates can operate at temperatures lower than 196°C and have a maximum thickness of 50mm. As this plate can tolerate extremely low temperatures, it is well suited to liquid gas storage.
Find out More
The steel grades outlined above, along with many others, are available on Masteel’s website. Masteel can offer expert insight into the best material for your liquid gas storage application, get in touch with the team for more details.