Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage Tank
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tanks are specialized products designed for storing liquefied petroleum gas, classified as special equipment and type III pressure vessels. They are made from 06Ni9DR material, undergo ultrasonic testing, hydrostatic and pneumatic tests, and are inspected on-site by the Technical Supervision Bureau, upon which a pressure vessel inspection certificate is issued. The manufacturing process also includes external rust removal and painting. The LNG storage tanks undergo rigorous quality assessment for the material of the pressure components, appearance dimensions, weld quality, operational quality, installation quality, internal equipment, and safety accessories.
Routine physical and chemical tests for the material of the drum, such as mechanical properties and chemical composition.
The welding joints, seams, tank end caps, and the mutual geometric positions of all pressure elements are rigorously inspected through X-ray non-destructive testing and magnetic particle inspection. Tests are conducted on the product's sealing, pressure resistance, and all technical indicators that could affect the safe operation of the product.
Common structures of LNG tanks include: vertical LNG tanks, horizontal LNG tanks, vertical mother-daughter tanks, and atmospheric storage tanks.
Vertical LNG Storage Tank
Volume options: 50 cu, 100 cu, 150 cu, 200 cu.
Horizontal LNG Storage Tank
Volume options: 50 cubic, 100 cubic.
Vertical母子罐
A mother tank consists of multiple sub-tanks connected in parallel to meet large storage capacity requirements, with several sub-tanks assembled side by side within a large outer tank. The number of sub-tanks typically ranges from 3 to 7, usually not exceeding 12. The volume of a single sub-tank should not be too large, usually between 100 to 150 cubic meters, with the maximum reaching 250 cubic meters. Common sizes include 1000 cubic meters, 1750 cubic meters, and 2000 cubic meters.
Atmospheric Storage Tank:
We offer medium to large-sized atmospheric LNG storage tanks, as well as extra-large atmospheric LNG storage tanks.
2. Cautionary Notes
1. Cylinders must be stored in well-ventilated areas, with a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from any fire or heat source. Cylinders are strictly prohibited from being heated with fire, boiled, or exposed to direct sunlight. Regular inspections of cylinder valves and pipeline joints for air tightness are required to ensure no leaks. Leaks can be checked using soap water, and it is strictly forbidden to test for leaks with an open flame.
2. When igniting, always light the primer first, followed by opening the gas, never reverse the order. There should be someone supervising during use; do not leave the area to prevent boiling water from overflowing and extinguishing the flame, which could cause the liquefied gas to escape and lead to an explosion. After using the gas cylinder, ensure the valve is tightly closed to prevent any gas leaks.
3. Do not deplete the liquefied gas completely in the cylinder; a certain residual pressure should be maintained. The residual pressure should generally be greater than 49.03 kPa (i.e., 0.5 kg/cm2, gauge pressure) to prevent air from entering the gas cylinder. After the liquefied petroleum gas is used up, the remaining residue in the cylinder is also a flammable substance and should not be poured out arbitrarily to avoid fires caused by the residue's flow and evaporation.
4. LPG cylinders are pressurized containers that require proper maintenance and regular inspections. During handling and use, they must be prevented from falling or colliding. It is prohibited to strike the cylinder valve open with metal tools, and they should be protected from direct sunlight and prolonged exposure to rain. Cylinders are typically inspected every 2 years.
5. Although the explosive range of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is not very wide, its lower explosive limit is low, making it easy to ignite and explode upon leakage. Additionally, LPG is heavier than air, so it tends to flow downward in the air and accumulate in low-lying areas, posing a hidden hazard for gas explosions. Therefore, in areas where gas leakage is likely, relying solely on window ventilation is insufficient; attention must also be given to proper ventilation at the lower levels.
6. Upon discovering a liquefied gas leak indoors, promptly open windows and doors for ventilation, allowing it to disperse away from any open flame. Prohibit any fire nearby until the fault is resolved and the distinctive odor dissipates before resuming use. Dispose of any leaked liquid on the ground by covering it with sand and soil before removing it to a safe location. In the event of a gas cylinder fire, immediately close the valve, move it to an open area outdoors, and extinguish it using dry powder extinguisher, CO2 extinguisher, or by covering it with a wet sack.
7. Educate children not to tamper with gas cylinders at will, and users must be aware of the safety knowledge regarding the use of gas cylinders.
One. The rise of LNG community gasification in China
If the 1980s to 1990s were the era of China's LPG community gasification, then the first 10 to 20 years of the 21st century will be the era of China's LNG community gasification. The origin of China's LPG community gasification is in Shenzhen, Guangdong, and the origin of China's LNG community gasification should be in Zibo, Shandong. The gas source for Guangdong's LPG community gasification mainly relies on overseas imports, while the current gas source for Shandong's LNG community gasification mainly comes from the LNG production plant in Puyang, Henan. In the future, there will be more sources of gas.
Yangzhai LNG Gasification Station, Zibo City, Shandong Province
This project is the first in China to design a gasification station for unloading, storage, and gasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The LNG is transported from the Zhongyuan Oilfield to the Zibo Gasification Station in cryogenic tankers.
The Zibo project commenced design in June 1999 and was completed in January 2000. The Zibo Gas Company started construction in January 2000, completed the construction in October 2000, and began trial operations with LNG. It was officially put into service for LNG supply on December 2, 2001. It is the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) gasification station in China and the largest in Asia. The natural gas is supplied exclusively to industrial users, with a designed capacity of 120,000 Nm3/d.
Qingdao Jinjialing LNG Residential Area Gasification Station
The Jinqianling project began design in June 2000 and was completed in January 2001; Qingdao Gas Company commenced construction in January 2001, and the facility was built and successfully trial-operated in February 2002, making it the first domestic civil liquefied natural gas gasification station, with a design capacity of 20,000 Nm3/d.
Guangdong Longchuan LNG Community Gasification Station Project
The Longchuan LNG gasification plant has a short design and construction period, taking less than a year from design to completion, and a grand opening ceremony was held on May 23rd this year. Its design capacity is 10,000 Nm3/d.
Although Longchuan Station's LNG currently originates from Puyang, Henan, the operator's gaze is fixed on Shenzhen. Once the Shenzhen LNG receiving station is completed, Longchuan will be the受益者.
The Longchuan LNG Gasification Plant Project is a management general contracting project managed by Qingdao Chemical Engineering Design Institute.
In China, currently under construction and set to open are LNG gasification stations in Shangqiu, Henan; Jiangyan and Shuyang, Jiangsu; Fangzi, Shandong; Suzhou, Zhejiang; Miyun, Beijing; and Bengbu, Anhui. Under planning are cities such as Yuyao, Zhejiang; Jiujiang, Jiangxi; Weifang, Shandong; Pingdu and Qingzhou; as well as Xiamen, Fujian. It's said that after completing the construction of the LNG gasification station in Longchuan, Guangdong, Shanghai Tandong Energy Co. is planning to invest in and build LNG community gasification stations in cities like Yangjiang, Huidong, and Shanwei in Guangdong.
It appears that the recent LNG community gasification boom in Shandong, China, far exceeds the LPG community gasification surge in Guangdong at the time. It's even faster than Japan's development pace in the 1970s. Whether it's the scale of construction, speed, or the organizational form of construction, as well as the level of public concern and influence, it is unparalleled by the Guangdong LPG community gasification.
Section Two: The global natural gas conversion project is inevitably on the horizon.
As the times progress and the economy and environmental protection requirements evolve, the drawbacks of coal-to-gas production are increasingly being fully exposed. Advanced countries have already phased out coal-to-gas production in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Oil-to-gas production also has numerous insurmountable shortcomings. Liquefied petroleum gas will become a transitional energy source as the depletion of oil becomes inevitable in the future. The global shift to natural gas as a replacement for all other energy sources will become an inevitable development in the revolution of gas energy.
Partial Natural Gas Conversion Schedule for Certain Countries
Country
During natural gas conversion (year)
Gas Source
USA
1945-1958
Pipeline natural gas predominant
Former Soviet Union
1948-1960
Pipeline natural gas predominant
United Kingdom
1964-1977
Initially using LNG, later predominantly switching to pipeline natural gas.
France
1962-1982
LNG combined with pipeline natural gas
Germany
1960-1970
Pipeline natural gas as the main source, with a small amount of LNG
Australia
1976-1986
Pipeline Natural Gas
Japan
1969-1998
All LNG supply
天然气的利用途径可采取管道输送和液化后用船运输、公路槽车和铁路槽车运输多种途径来实现。长输管道输送受到铺设管道需要穿过崇山峻岭、农田村庄以及征用村镇土地赔偿费用等限制，超过一定长距离，从经济角度来考虑是很不合算的。而将天然气液化后用大船（13.5万立方米）通过海上运输，送至城市边沿建设的LNG接收基地是非常经济合算的事。LNG在美国、欧洲、日本早就得到广泛的应用，而日本是世界上使用LNG最成功的国家，年用量达到了5000万吨，占世界LNG贸易量8000万吨的62.5%。亚洲的日本、韩国和台湾地区LNG消费数量，占了世界总消费量的四分之三还多。
The launch of the 3 million tons LNG project in Guangdong, China, the planning of the 2 million tons LNG project in Fujian, plus the initiation of the Indian LNG project, and the completion of the Dongding LNG receiving base in Taiwan, will further drive a significant increase in Asia's LNG demand.
III. The Development of the Global LNG Industry
Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, a permanent gas that cannot be liquefied by compression at normal temperatures; it only turns into a liquid at extremely low temperatures (-162 degrees). Since the 1920s, the rapid development of cryogenic industrial technology has made large-scale liquefaction of natural gas possible.
In 1910, the United States began industrial-scale natural gas liquefaction. In 1917, Cabot received the first U.S. patent related to natural gas liquefaction, storage, and transportation. That same year, the world's first liquefied methane plant was established in the West Virginia region of the United States, where methane liquefaction production took place.
In 1937, Egerton from the UK proposed using liquefied natural gas (LNG) to regulate peak loads in urban gas supply. By liquefying and storing natural gas, it can meet the peak demand during winter and for emergency situations. The Shanghai Pudong LNG production plant, which began operation at the end of 1999 with the assistance of the French Sofirigas Engineering Company and has a design capacity of 120,000 cubic meters per day, is the first natural gas reserve/peak-shaving station in China to adopt LNG technology.
1955, Comstock International Methane Company, U.S.A., dedicated to the planning and design of cross-sea transportation for liquefied natural gas.
In 1957, British Gas decided to enter into a contract with Coniston Corporation to import liquefied natural gas to supplement the city's gas supply shortage, and established the world's first liquefied natural gas receiving terminal on the island of Canvey in the United Kingdom for storing the imported LNG.
In 1959, the U.S. Constock International Methane Company built the world's first LNG carrier, "Methane Pioneer," which transported 2,200 tons of liquefied natural gas from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to the Canvey Island receiving facility in the UK between January 28 and February 20 of the following year, marking the birth of the world's LNG industry.
In 1960, Shell UK acquired a 40% stake in the company. The "Methane Pioneer" tanker was commissioned for LNG transport from Algeria to the UK in 1964, rapidly boosting the global LNG commercial trade.
The surge in China's LNG community gasification trend is poised to greatly propel the launch of China's LNG industry and the rapid development of the global LNG industry, with the continuous emergence of domestic LNG liquefaction plants and the increase in coastal import LNG receiving bases.
