The growing worldwide demand for chemical products and proper storage and handling makes energy efficiency of storage tanks a key requirement. Each year, large amounts of energy are wasted due to hot storage tanks not having proper insulation systems in place.
UK-based Owens Corning FOAMGLAS said: “With tanks that operate above ambient conditions, the tank walls and roofs are often viewed as the main sources of energy loss.
“However, the heat loss at tank walls and roof will fluctuate when the liquid level increases or decreases but the heat loss through the bottom will always remain constant. This can be explained by the fact that when the storage tank is only filled at 10 percent of its capacity, the tank bottom will always be in 100 percent contact with the hot liquid, making it a very susceptible area for heat transfer and energy loss.”
It added: “Energy loss has adverse effects on the tank’s operating costs but can also lead to issues related to the quality of the stored content. A decrease of temperature inside a hot storage tank can lead to an increase of viscosity or even product solidification. When minimizing operating costs and maintaining tank content quality are key requirements, a tank base insulation system should be specified for all tanks operating above ambient conditions.”
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