Spherical tanks have many advantages over conventional cylindrical tank designs that make them a preferable choice for liquid storage in process industries. Their spherical shape provides maximum storage capacity for a given surface area which helps minimized material usage. The constant curvature of the walls also means uniform stress distribution that allows thinner steel to be used. This results in significant steel cost savings. Spherical tanks also occupy lesser ground area and have stable self-supporting structure without requiring expensive foundations. Their compact size and shape helps ease transportation and installation at plant sites.
Applications in Chemical Industries
Chemical industries have been major adopters of Spherical Tank due to their unique requirements. Chemicals stored in bulk need to maintain homogeneity which spherical tanks allow through their shape. The self-mixing effect during withdrawals ensures a well-blended liquid stream. Various chemical process operations also involve storing of corrosive products where the constant wall thickness of spherical tanks helps achieve uniform corrosion rates. Many reactive chemicals also pose vapor emission hazards, which spherical cover designs are better equipped to contain through their compact sealing surface area. All these factors have propelled the use of spherical tanks for storing chemicals like liquified petroleum gas, sulfuric acid, latex etc. in large production plants.
Usage in Oil & Gas Industry
Liquid petroleum products form a major chunk of worldwide energy needs. Their extraction, transportation and storage involve storing vast volumes economically and efficiently. Spherical tank farms have emerged as the preferred solution particularly for above ground storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG), gasoline and other petrochemicals. The self-supporting structure of spheres allows for stacking multiple tanks in limited ground space. Projects involving floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels have also incorporated spherical designs to maximize onboard storage capacity. As renewable natural gas progresses, spherical containment ensures distribution from bio-gas production sites in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Advantages for Waste Management
Effective waste handling is a growing concern for municipalities and industrial plants. Spherical tanks facilitate safe, long-term storage of treatment by-products and wastewater sludge. Their resistance to subsidence and settlement aids structural integrity for decades of service life. Features like floating suction systems and mechanical mixers can be easily installed to keep sludge uniformly suspended. This prevents stratification and plugging, allowing for controlled dewatering. Many toxic and hazardous industrial wastes also require robust, corrosion-resistant containment. The stress-free spherical design suits such critical applications while occupying less space in treatment facilities.
New Design Variations
Tank manufacturers have continuously innovated spherical tank designs to extend their utility. Flange-less designs now enable single-piece fabrication and quicker field erection. Internal rubber lining options make them suitable for abrasive slurries. Spherical tanks with movable roofs allow for temporary de-gassing during maintenance. Cone bottom variations provide self-draining capabilities for ease of emptying. Customized manways and Nozzle orientations expand process connectivity. Some manufacturers have also pioneered techniques like towing pre-fabricated spheres to installation sites across oceans. Such design advances are broadening the application scope of spherical tanks in new process industries.
Growth Outlook
As economies industrialize and urbanize, the demand for stored energy and processed materials will only accelerate. Factors like shifting environmental regulations, modular plant designs, and renewable infrastructure build-outs are also catalysing the storage infrastructure needs. Market research firms have projected a steady 5-7% annual growth for the global spherical tank market in the coming years. The Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions will sustain the bulk of new spherical tank farm projects due to oil, gas and petrochemical activities there. Expanding North American shale play and carbon capture usage will buoy the industry as well. So while cylindrical tanks will still play a major role, spherical tanks are clearly emerging as the storage system of choice where compact, robust and economic containment is required.
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