Volatile Vessels

Pressure vessels are a fundamental part of our everyday existence, even if we don’t use them personally; many of the governing processes in our society are deeply managed by these systems. We find them in our own homes, supplying us with hot water heated up from water wells under great pressure to minimise the loss of energy. And if you favour a soda every now and again, you should know that you bubbly soft drink is infused with carbon dioxide from Co2 storage tanks that every fast-food restaurant and cool drink manufacturer stocks up on to make sure you get the best quality from their facility’s products. Being a dangerous gas when allowed to seep into the air we breathe in large quantities, this gas should be stored in a well-crafted pressure vessel lined with a strong material like ceramic or another polymer. In industrial processes, we find pressure vessels used for air compression (for pneumatics, etc.) and other systems where volatile gasses are used. Special storage tanks are used to store gasses like nitrogen in Nitrogen Storage Tanks where it can easily be accessed for transport to another system where the gas is needed for an operation. Nitrogen itself is produced through a process called fractional distillation.

The fractional distillation of liquid air yields the required nitrogen, which is then immediately stored in pressure vessels like distillation towers for transport. Pure nitrogen has a variety of uses, and just a few will highlight its frequent occurrence in many industries: Pure nitrogen can be used as a preserving food additive in combination with carbon dioxide, it is used in the production of electronic circuitry components and stainless steel, and has properties to reduce fire hazard. Being a cryogenic substance, nitrogen is mostly found in its gas form, but with a sufficient fluctuation in temperature under the conditions in Nitrogen Storage Tanks, liquid nitrogen can be used to preserve biological tissues and cool any overheating equipment in an instant. Nitrogen has an overall important role in biological processes, and is consumed in its impure forms by plants and animals to develop. In the fertiliser industry, pure nitrogen is used in the Haber process, where it interacts with hydrogen to produce ammonia. Following several more chemical reactions, nitrogen is added to an overall fertiliser to enrich the soil for plant growth and ensure a successful harvest. But handled under the wrong conditions, or void of regular maintenance, pressure vessels containing nitrogen in any form can spring a leak and wreak havoc.

Not only is this gas quite expensive to acquire and store, but a fast release of nitrogen into the air will likely displace the oxygen present and cause individuals in the area to choke. Under these threats, Nitrogen Storage Tanks and Co2 Storage tanks are produced under strict guidelines to ensure maximum efficiency and security to ensure that there is no health hazard present. But with daily handling and atmospheric conditions regularly changing, there is no guarantee that the systems will remain absolutely safe. So invest in a reliable supplier of pressure vessels and opt for regular maintenance to ensure the success of your company and project.

About the author:

Independent Gas Co. (IGC) is a national supplier of pressure vessels for the storage of carbon dioxide and industrial gasses, offering cost-efficient engineering solutions with 24 years’ experience.