I heard that aluminum floating disks can’t be used for methanol tanks?
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I heard that aluminum floating disks can’t be used for methanol tanks? Does anyone know the reason?
Fully aluminum floating platform; the cover plate is made of stainless steel, while the columns, frame, and floats are made of aluminum. A fully aluminum floating platform can help reduce costs. However, its melting point is around 500 degrees, meaning it will melt in no time, leading to uncontrolled fires that cannot be extinguished effectively. This does not meet fire safety regulations and design requirements, and it can result in legal responsibilities. Fully stainless-steel floating decks have high investment costs; their melting point is around 1000 degrees, so they do not melt within 2 hours. The fire can be controlled, and the fire can be extinguished effectively in a short time, which meets the requirements of fire safety design standards.
Additionally, the service life of aluminum floating trays is generally 8 years, while that of fully stainless steel floating trays is generally 15 years.
This is the advantage of stainless steel floating discs, but isn’t this why aluminum floating discs cannot be used in methanol tanks?
In the past, ethanol and methanol were even stored in aluminum cans.
If the diameter of the methanol tank is >40M, according to GB50074 - 6.1.7, non-melting materials should be used; aluminum floating discs are not permitted. As for the reasons why it’s below 40M, I haven’t been able to find any information either.
This post was last edited by lgf182707 on 2018-1-9 at 17:28. The flash point of methanol is 12.22°C; for storage tanks holding liquids with a flash point below 45°C and a capacity of more than 5000 m3, single-disc or double-disc internal or external floating roof tanks should be used, and lightweight floating roofs (including stainless steel composite floating roofs) should not be employed.
The trend is that all units over 1,500 liters should use steel drums in the future