thermal heating of LNG concrete tanks 1

[faycal bellali]

hi
we have butane / propane concrete tanks, the soil thermal cables are very old, out of service. tried to pull them out with no success as they are in small corroded conduits...i am looking to see if someone has experienced this type of issues before, to tell me the method statement of change out of these cables. who knows a company that potentially has experience with cryogenics tanks. many thx

 

[FacEngrPE]

Is the purpose of heating cables to prevent water from freezing under the tanks, resulting in frost heave?

 

[waross]

WE had that problem with street-lighting cables in downtown Vancouver.
The cables had below grade access and as well as corrosion of the conduits we had silting as well.
Horses were used for delivery in Vancouver into the late 40s
The old timers claimed that the part of the corrosion resulted from urine runoff from stables but that may have been hyperbole.
When a cable failed:
Step One: Pull hard on each end of the cable in turn.
The cables would mostly break, usually where they exited from the conduit.
Step Two: Use a thin screwdriver to push a basket grip (Kellems grip) into the conduit to get another purchase on the cable.
Usually the cable would break again.
Step Three: Access the conduit at the midway point and cut the conduit. Re-install the basket grip as in Step Two.
Often the cable could be pulled this time.
Else;
Step Four; Quarter the conduit and repeat.
The couple that I worked on, we didn't have to go to Step Four.
Good luck.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[faycal bellali]

thanks for the answer , FacEngrPE
foundation heating system for LNG concrete storage tanks preventing the possibility of frost heave beneath the tank foundation.