Ground reservoir for the storage of a liquefied gas

Abstract

Abstract 934,030. Storing liquefied gases. CONCH INTERNATIONAL METHANE Ltd. May 24, 1962, No. 20017/62. Class 8(2). A reservoir for the storage of a liquefied gas, e.g. natural gas, methane, ethane, propane, oxygen or nitrogen, comprises a hole 1 in the surface of the earth having an impervious lining 3 to its side walls and a bottom 4 constituted by an impervious ground layer, and a thermally insulated roof 5 completely covering the hole. The ground layer may be clay or rock and the lining preferably of concrete, as shown in Fig. 1, or a metal such as aluminium, steel or stainless steel. The roof 5 is of steel and has a layer of thermal insulation 6 spaced from and attached to the roof by suspension brackets 7; the roof and insulation are built into the surface of the earth. Through the roof extend a charging conduit 8, a discharging conduit 9 fitted with a pump 10 and a gas vent 11 fitted with a pressure control device 12. The thermal insulation on the roof may be fibre glass, foam plastic such as polystyrene or polyurethane foam, paper honeycomb or perlite and the lining 3 may have on its inside and/or its outside an insulation layer which may be sealcoated with mastic. In a further embodiment, Fig 2 (not shown), the lining and roof are integral and of steel provided on the outside with a layer of insulation seal-coated with mastic, the lining and insulation layer extending into the impervious ground layer. The liner is caulked and grouted into the impermeable ground layer and a narrow space between the side walls of the hole and the insulation layer is filled with concrete or liquid cement grout. A single conduit for charging and discharging the reservoir passes through the roof. In another embodiment, Fig. 3 (not shown), the hole extends into the impervious ground layer, the lower part of the hole being of reduced diameter to provide a step into which a steel lining is caulked and grouted. The lining and roof are made from steel plates welded together. The charging and discharging conduits preferably pass through the roof by way of a trunk but may pass through tunnels in the sides of the hole.

Inventors

• 👤 Nachshen Maurice

Bibliographic Details