Question regarding whether the heat storage tank is a pressure vessel
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Our company has recently taken on a project for a cloud computing data center. Due to incomplete design documents, we turned to Shanghai Chuan for assistance. The project involves two cold storage tanks that are used to supply cooling capacity to the air conditioning systems; these tanks are made of carbon steel, have a volume of 15,000 m3, an operating pressure of 0.8 MPa, a diameter of 28,000 mm, and a height of 25,000 mm. Water is the fluid contained within these tanks, with temperatures ranging from around 5°C to 30°C. According to the definition of pressure vessels, I believe these tanks meet only two of the relevant criteria, and they do not satisfy the requirement that the fluid contained within them should be a gas, liquefied gas, or a liquid whose maximum operating temperature is equal to or higher than its standard boiling point. However, I’ve seen some manufacturers classify these as pressure vessels. Since I’m not familiar with this topic, I’m a bit confused. I would be very grateful if someone could clarify this for me.
This post was last edited by hlcl on 2016-7-19 at 16:59. It is designed and manufactured as a pressure vessel, but not managed as one. Does a thermal storage device have a gas phase space? If there is a gas phase space, it must also be managed as a pressure vessel.
28 meters in diameter? 25 meters tall? So huge?
First of all, this is definitely a pressure vessel! It shall be designed and constructed in accordance with GB150 or JB4732. As for whether it is subject to the ‘Pressure Vessel Regulations’, it depends on whether there is a gas space above the liquid level during normal operation; if the gas space is greater than 25 L, then it is subject to the ‘Pressure Vessel Regulations’. This possibility is very high. If the gas space above the liquid surface is less than 25 L, it is not subject to the “capacity regulations”.
Well, there’s also a smaller thermal storage tank, with a capacity of 11,000 m3. This is done considering the fact that electricity costs are higher during the day and lower at night; cooling is performed at night and stored in the thermal storage tank for use during the day
Thank you for your reply. I’ve now seen our general contract, but there’s no information available at all; we don’t even know which design institute is involved. We also have no idea whether there is a gas space above the heat storage tank
Thank you for your reply. I’ve learned from it; for someone like me who isn’t an expert, simply relying on the definition of pressure vessels still leads to misunderstandings
The focus of thermal storage tanks seems to be the process, and their structures also vary. It seems to be described in quite detail.
First: 1. System pressure ≠ Tank pressure； 2. As far as I know, IDCs in cloud computing centers cannot use tanks of such a large size, 15,000 m3; it is possible however in the case of regional energy systems. 3. GB150 \"Pressure Vessels\" and the \"Safety Technical Inspection Regulations for Fixed Pressure Vessels\" (abbreviated as \"Vessel Regulations\") are not the same. Those that fall under the \"Acceptance Regulations\" are definitely pressure vessels in accordance with GB150. GB150 \"Pressure Vessels\" is more comprehensive.
1. As a water storage tank, there must be a gas phase space. 2. An important indicator for evaluating pressure vessels is the PV product, that is, the product of pressure and volume. There is a table indicating the categories of containers behind the regulatory specifications; take a look and you’ll understand. 3. Different pressure vessels are subject to varying degrees of regulation under these specifications – for some, it is sufficient to follow the regulations regarding design and manufacturing. The original poster seems to be quite responsible and attentive; I suggest spending half a day going through the regulations, taking this opportunity to understand them thoroughly :)
A vessel with a gas space is considered a pressure vessel, and the volume of its gas space is definitely greater than 0.03 m3; how can such a vessel have no gas space?