Software for calculation of Insulation of Cryogenic tanks

[Meesamali512]

Hello Everybody,
We have a cryogenic tank which is housing BUTENE at -6.4 degree celsius. We have various insulation layers for the tank along with following technical data for the tank.
1. Tank diameter (inside) = 36.00 m
2. Tank height = 10.80 m
3. Liquid level = 10.50 m
4. Storage material = Butene
5. Design Temp (°C) = -24 °C
6. Operating Temp (°C) = -6.4 °C
7. Liquid Spec. Gravity = 0.6011
8. Net working capacity = 5434 m3

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...94e0-f46a396e6923&file=INSULATION_details.png

Would really appreciate if somebody can suggest me some good software to do a detailed THERMAL analysis for this cryogenic tank in order to understand its thermal parameters and how much each of the insulation material affects the tank's overall insulation.
Any guidance / help would be extremely appreciated.

 

[iainuts]

Hi Meesamali, Cryogenic tanks are typically vacuum insulated, not foam. Google defines cryogenic as being below -150 C.

Anyway, I'm not familiar with the kind of software you're looking for but you might try the "Heat Transfer & Thermodynamics engineering" forum here:

http://www.eng-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=391

 

[Meesamali512]

Dear iainuts,
Thanks for your response. You're right normally cryogenics are below -150 C but here still as the Butene is in liquid form and also maybe client wants to call it so its called as cryogenic. I am looking for a software which can take inputs as parameters related to various materials for insulation and then in the end give us an OUTPUT in the form of insulation value of overall structure. We have some issues with the perlite blocks as the ring beam of main tank structure so are looking to replace them. Need detailed design before replacing them.
Regards.

 

[IRstuff]

Are there more pictures? or an expansion of the existing ones? Where and what is the inner wall? What heat loss is it design for? Is there something that keeps it cold, aside from the insulation, i.e., active cooling? What insulation value are you trying to achieve?

As for software, something this complex would require a finite element analysis (FEA) tool, see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_finite_element_software_packages

You could try to do that with other general purpose tools like Mathcad or Matlab, possibly even Excel.

TTFN
faq731-376

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529

Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

 

[Meesamali512]

Hi IRstuff,
Thanks for replying back. I have attached some more details regarding insulation of the tank as well as the related codes. All the relevant information is as in this link.

http://padlet.com/meesamalinaqvi/i9jzooldg3rq

Kindly review the same and recommend good strategy / software / solution to move forward. We're really stuck for the time being. Any help is appreciated.
Regards.