Paul Boughton
Two major industry groups have been working together on a project to upgrade two cryogenic storage tanks in Ireland.
Leeds based Energy Services and Solutions (UK) (ESS), a division of the JFD Group of Companies has been working on the project for BOC, in Cork, to upgrade the integrity of two 300 ton capacity cryogenic storage tanks containing liquid nitrogen.
The tanks, primarily in use for bulk nitrogen supplies to hospitals and the pharmaceutical and electronics industries, are the property of BOC (part of the Linde Group), the largest supplier of gases and related products and services in the Republic of Ireland.
The stored liquid nitrogen is used in hospitals for the preservation of clinical samples of tissue and cells at low temperatures and must be maintained at a temperature of -196˚C. (At room temperature, liquid nitrogen boils expanding like steam to fill a volume 2000 times its liquid state).
The revalidation of these types of cryogenic tank, storing liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus -196°C, are undertaken primarily to ensure they remain in a fit condition and safe to be used for continuing storage.
Commenting on behalf of ESS, Operations Manager, Dennis Habergham said: “The project primarily involved mechanical design and construction work associated with the installation of additional 150mm diameter combined pressure/vacuum relief valves, pressure/vent valves and a reconfiguration of pipework to vapouriser and other stainless steel process pipework.
Another important consideration was a civil engineering design evaluation on the structural integrity of the concrete support legs bearing the weight of the storage tanks. Minor damage sustained by the support legs had exposed corroded steel reinforcing within. The extent and significance of the corrosion had to be surveyed and carefully evaluated to ensure that the load bearing capabilities had not been compromised. When it was established that this was the case, remedial repairs, designed to arrest future corrosion development, were undertaken.”
During revalidation, the past operational service life of the tank is reviewed and compared to the working conditions used for the original design calculations prior to construction. The process involves a series of inspection and testing procedures of both the tank and its safety protection mechanisms
Paul Waters, Operations Manager of BOC Ireland said: “The revalidation process adopts policy and codes of best engineering practice that are currently available. It was as a result of this exercise that the various pipework modifications and programme of other works carried out by ESS, including full repainting of both tanks, were undertaken.”
Mr Habergham continued: “ESS has worked as part of the in-house team for BOC on a number of successive occasions. We are pleased to have consistently demonstrated the level of technical expertise that has resulted in the confidence BOC have placed in our company. In managing the project we co-ordinated the input of a wide range of contractors and a large multi-discipline engineering team to deliver the project on budget, within the timescales acceptable to the client and without affecting production of the plant.”
ESS handles the major construction and lifetime management of gas distribution systems from design, through construction, project management, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and demolition.
For more information, visit www.bocgases.ie or www.energyservicesuk.co.uk
Leeds based Energy Services and Solutions (UK) (ESS), a division of the JFD Group of Companies has been working on the project for BOC, in Cork, to upgrade the integrity of two 300 ton capacity cryogenic storage tanks containing liquid nitrogen.
The tanks, primarily in use for bulk nitrogen supplies to hospitals and the pharmaceutical and electronics industries, are the property of BOC (part of the Linde Group), the largest supplier of gases and related products and services in the Republic of Ireland.
The stored liquid nitrogen is used in hospitals for the preservation of clinical samples of tissue and cells at low temperatures and must be maintained at a temperature of -196˚C. (At room temperature, liquid nitrogen boils expanding like steam to fill a volume 2000 times its liquid state).
The revalidation of these types of cryogenic tank, storing liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus -196°C, are undertaken primarily to ensure they remain in a fit condition and safe to be used for continuing storage.
Commenting on behalf of ESS, Operations Manager, Dennis Habergham said: “The project primarily involved mechanical design and construction work associated with the installation of additional 150mm diameter combined pressure/vacuum relief valves, pressure/vent valves and a reconfiguration of pipework to vapouriser and other stainless steel process pipework.
Another important consideration was a civil engineering design evaluation on the structural integrity of the concrete support legs bearing the weight of the storage tanks. Minor damage sustained by the support legs had exposed corroded steel reinforcing within. The extent and significance of the corrosion had to be surveyed and carefully evaluated to ensure that the load bearing capabilities had not been compromised. When it was established that this was the case, remedial repairs, designed to arrest future corrosion development, were undertaken.”
During revalidation, the past operational service life of the tank is reviewed and compared to the working conditions used for the original design calculations prior to construction. The process involves a series of inspection and testing procedures of both the tank and its safety protection mechanisms
Paul Waters, Operations Manager of BOC Ireland said: “The revalidation process adopts policy and codes of best engineering practice that are currently available. It was as a result of this exercise that the various pipework modifications and programme of other works carried out by ESS, including full repainting of both tanks, were undertaken.”
Mr Habergham continued: “ESS has worked as part of the in-house team for BOC on a number of successive occasions. We are pleased to have consistently demonstrated the level of technical expertise that has resulted in the confidence BOC have placed in our company. In managing the project we co-ordinated the input of a wide range of contractors and a large multi-discipline engineering team to deliver the project on budget, within the timescales acceptable to the client and without affecting production of the plant.”
ESS handles the major construction and lifetime management of gas distribution systems from design, through construction, project management, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and demolition.
For more information, visit www.bocgases.ie or www.energyservicesuk.co.uk
