If you are in the business of liquid gas, you have a busy year ahead. Liquid gas prices are rising at record levels, with the value of the US liquid gas market reaching new heights in 2021. Liquid gas is essential for meeting America’s energy needs. It also plays a critical role in a wide range of industrial processes that affect everything from manufacturing to medicines to transport.
In order to successfully trade liquid gas, you need to know how to store it safely. Liquid gas can be incredibly volatile in the wrong conditions. If an accident occurs when transferring gas to a liquid, the human, financial, and legal consequences can be devastating. With that in mind, here are the main safe and effective ways of storing liquid gas.
- Propane Tank for Liquid Gas
One of the most popular ways to store liquid gas is via a propane tank. Propane storage is affordable, secure, and easy to maintain. When asking “is propane a liquid of gas?”, it is worth remembering that it is usually stored as a liquid. However, it is not without its risks. It is crucial to spot the signs of propane tank degradation so that you know exactly when it is time to purchase a new propane tank. By storing your gas in a well-maintained propane tank, you can keep costs and risks low.
- Geological Storage
Increasingly, the industry is making use of the Earth’s natural resources to safely store and handle natural gases. The most common form of geological storage in the US today is in salt caverns, which are able to naturally hold large amounts of gas in a controlled environment. The prehistoric salt caverns of Utah are increasingly being used to store large amounts of America’s natural gas, for example.
- Tanker Storage
The most common way to store liquified natural gas (LNG) worldwide is via large, drum-like tankers. These are usually massive structures with walls made of reinforced concrete, as well as an incredibly thick dome over the top of the structure. This allows for the safe storage of huge amounts of liquid gas, while also creating a secure environment in case the volatile compounds were to explode within the tank.
- Refrigeration
Oftentimes, the best way to store and especially transport liquid gas is via deep refrigeration. This involves super-cooling the gas to incredibly low temperatures, usually the well-below freezing point. This makes the liquid gas a lot less volatile since the freezing slows down any possible reactions. This is how huge volumes of liquid gas are transported around the world every single day.
- Materials-Based Storage
An experimental but increasingly popular way to store liquid gas is via so-called materials-based storage. This involves developing materials that are able to absorb and hold the liquid gas until it is ready to use. For example, The University of California Berkeley is currently developing an ultra-lightweight material to store liquid hydrogen for use in zero-emissions vehicles. This could be a cheap and less cumbersome way to store the liquid gases that will become increasingly important for future transport.
Your Science Questions, Answered
Now that you know how to safely store liquid gas, it is time to learn more. In our dedicated tech and sciences pages, you can find simple, actionable advice and information on the scientific processes that matter for your business. Check it out today.
To understand about CNG, RNG, And Hydrogen Tanks industry, Read here
