Safety of large vacuum insulated LNG tanks.

Vacuum insulated cryogenic tanks are widely used in small-scale LNG technology. With growing number of LNG installations and increasing capacity of the LNG storage tanks, highest attention shall be paid to prevention of failures and guarantee of safety of personal, equipment and environment, especially populated areas. The main risk concerns were studied theoretically and experimentally (pressure vessel integrity, outer vessel resistance to accidental situations (pool fire, jet fire, BLEVE, Roll-over etc.).
To better understand the safety a document was created. Document based on strength calculations to see the material reserves (low temperature properties, pressure strengthening, shape change) and also on many physical tests to prove the mechanical properties of different materials used for manufacturing of the cryogenic vessel. Creep tests of outer jacket steel (for certain temperature, time and force). Perlite (insulation) tests at high hydrocarbon flame temperature.