LNG tanks are used to store cryogenic liquid natural gas, so maintaining a cryogenic state and preventing heat loss are essential. At present, the heat insulation methods of LNG storage tanks are: pile heat insulation, high vacuum heat insulation, vacuum powder heat insulation, high vacuum multi-layer heat insulation, high vacuum multi-screen heat insulation. One of the most used is accumulation insulation.

Heat insulation of LNG storage tank is to reduce the evaporation loss of LNG by installing insulation layers inside and outside the LNG storage tank. This insulation method is to fill the insulation material with a small thermal conductivity, and achieve the purpose of insulation above the part that needs insulation. There are three types of insulation materials for LNG storage tanks: foam type, powder type and fiber type.

1. Foam type

Foam insulation material is a kind of common insulation material, which is widely used for its light weight, low thermal conductivity and good thermal insulation performance. Foam insulation is usually made of polymer or other materials, it has an open or closed cell structure, can effectively reduce heat transfer and evaporation loss.

The foam materials used for insulation of LNG storage tank are: polyurethane, polystyrene, rubber, glass brick, perlite and so on.

2, fiber type

Fiber type insulation materials are usually made of glass fiber, rock wool, ceramic fiber, aluminum silicate and other materials. It has excellent thermal insulation, fire resistance and corrosion resistance.

The fiber materials used for heat insulation of LNG storage tank are: glass wool, rock wool, ceramic fiber and so on.

3. Powder type

Powder type insulation material is a new type of insulation material, which is composed of a variety of polymer materials, inorganic fillers and other auxiliary materials, by mixing, processing and other methods. Powder type insulation material has good thermal insulation properties, high temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance, which is suitable for various industrial and construction fields.

The powder type materials used for heat insulation of LNG storage tank are: pearlescent sand and so on.

At present, the suspended ceiling of the LNG storage tank is made of glass wool, the wall of the tank is made of expanded perlite and LNG elastic felt (elastic glass wool), and the bottom of the tank is made of foam glass bricks.

Expanded perlite is mainly used to avoid the brittleness effect of low temperature on the inner wall of the outer tank, and it is used for adiabatic cold preservation, and also plays the role of filtration and adsorption, so as to keep the cold retention performance of LNG storage tank to meet the design requirements.

LNG elastic felt is mainly used to absorb the impact of expanded perlite on the inner tank under various conditions. Used to maintain the integrity of the storage tank and prevent damage to the inner tank walls. In addition, LNG elastic felt has fire and heat insulation performance, which can play a certain role in fire and heat insulation.

There are three types of insulation materials for LNG storage tanks: foam type, fiber type and powder type, which complement each other and provide excellent low temperature insulation effect for LNG storage tanks.