Spherical Storage Tanks: Small Footprint, High Pressure Resistance, the Preferred Equipment for Efficient Storage of Liquefied Gas and Chemical Media

Spherical Storage Tanks: Small Footprint, High Pressure Resistance, the Preferred Equipment for Efficient Storage of Liquefied Gas and Chemical Media

In fields such as petrochemical engineering and energy storage, the storage of media like liquefied gas and liquid hydrocarbons has extremely high requirements for equipment. Spherical storage tanks, with their unique advantages of "small footprint and high pressure resistance", have become the preferred solution for storing such media. Their performance advantages stem from scientific structural design and precise functional adaptation.

In terms of space utilization, the "small footprint" advantage of spherical storage tanks is particularly prominent. For the same storage volume, the surface area of a spherical structure is only about 70% of that of a cylindrical storage tank. Taking a storage volume of 1,000 cubic meters as an example: a cylindrical storage tank has a diameter of approximately 10 meters and a length of 13 meters, covering an area of over 130 square meters; in contrast, a spherical storage tank has a diameter of about 12.4 meters and covers only 120 square meters. Moreover, it does not require reserved elongated operating space, allowing for more flexible layout in limited spaces such as workshops and tank farms. It is especially suitable for chemical parks or port tank areas where land resources are scarce.

"High pressure resistance" is the key factor that makes spherical storage tanks suitable for storing high-pressure media. The spherical structure can evenly distribute internal pressure across the entire spherical surface, with no stress concentration areas. Calculations show that with the same material and wall thickness, the pressure-bearing capacity of a spherical storage tank is 1.5 to 2 times that of a cylindrical storage tank, capable of withstanding high pressures ranging from 1.6 to 10 MPa. This fully meets the storage requirements of high-pressure media such as liquefied gas (which needs to be pressurized to over 2.1 MPa for storage) and liquid ammonia. At the same time, the uniform stress design significantly reduces the risk of cracking caused by excessive local stress, extending the service life of the tank. Typically, the designed service life of a spherical storage tank can reach more than 20 years, far exceeding that of ordinary storage tanks.

In addition, spherical storage tanks also have notable advantages in media storage efficiency and safety. They feature strong airtightness, and the equipped double-sealed flanges and pressure monitoring systems can effectively prevent leakage of liquefied gas and chemical media. Their inner walls are smooth without dead corners, preventing media residue, facilitating cleaning and maintenance, and reducing the risk of cross-contamination of media. Today, spherical storage tanks have become core equipment in scenarios such as liquefied gas storage in oil refineries and liquid raw material turnover in chemical plants. They not only save land costs through compact layout but also ensure the safety of media storage with high pressure-bearing performance, truly achieving the dual value of "efficient storage" and "safety and stability".