To prevent exposure to the summer sun, should storage tanks be insulated or kept cool?
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The tank stores toluene; in order to prevent the solvent from evaporating due to exposure to the sun in summer, should the outer wall of the tank be insulated (H) or insulated against heat (C)?
We have encountered this problem too. One should choose a material with a relatively low heat transfer coefficient at this temperature. Insulating materials have poor heat transfer at high temperatures. Insulating materials have poor heat absorption at low temperatures.
Using insulation material is better; it can make something non-flammable, while maintaining cold resistance is more difficult
The outer wall of storage tanks stored at room temperature is generally coated with a cooling adhesive insulating and anti-corrosion paint, which can effectively reduce the absorption of sunlight by the tank and offers excellent anti-corrosion properties.
In summer, the temperature of the medium in the storage tank is lower than the ambient temperature; why isn’t it insulated?
Design Code for Thermal Insulation of Petrochemical Equipment and Piping SH/T 3010-2013 5.6 The following atmospheric pressure vertical cylindrical steel storage tanks shall be insulated: a) When the storage temperature of the medium is equal to or greater than 50 ℃； b) When the storage temperature of the medium is below 50 ℃, insulating the storage tank helps to meet the requirements of the production process and brings significant economic benefits; c) When liquids stored in floating roof tanks or internal floating roof tanks form condensates on the inner walls of the tank due to cooling, which affects the proper operation of the floating roof; d) When the storage tank is equipped with heating coils.
It depends on the specific storage medium; for liquefied gases, cooling insulating sealant is generally used. There are also types that provide cold protection as well as those that provide heat retention. In general, this is referred to as insulation (whether it’s for low or high temperatures, it’s still called insulation!)
Insulation is used whenever it is not for the cold storage of the medium.
Use insulation, since it’s to prevent exposure to direct sunlight.