Tank for storing petroleum products and floating element for said tank

Abstract

Present invention relates to the field of a storage tank design and can be used in the construction of tanks for storing light ends and, preferably, for storing gasoline. The claimed tank for storing petroleum products consists of a body, a roof and a floating protective cover comprised of a plurality of floating elements in the form of solids of revolution having the same shape. In the tank, a portion of the floating elements of the protective cover is situated below the surface of the liquid, and a portion is situated in the gas space of the tank. The distinguishing feature of the proposed invention is the floating elements, which differ from one another in shape and size by not more than 5%. Furthermore, the floating elements that make up the floating protective cover have a centre of flotation that is offset from their geometric centre. All of the elements of the protective cover are made of non-sparking metal. The technical result of the invention is that of reducing the rate of evaporation of the liquid and the concentration of vapors, suppressing the process of combustion and preventing the possibility of electrostatic buildup and spark discharge between the floating elements.

1 . A petroleum product storage tank, which consists of a body, a shell and a floating protective coating consisting of numerous floating elements as rotation bodies of the same shape, some part of which are located below a liquid surface in the tank and some of them—in the tank gas space characterized in that the floating elements in size and shape differ from each other for not more than 5%, the floating elements have a center of flotation offset from their geometric centre, and all floating elements are made of non-sparkling metal. 
     
     
         2 . The tank according to  claim 1  characterized in that the floating elements located in the gas space form not less than four layers. 
     
     
         3 . The tank according to  claim 1  characterized in that the floating elements located within the liquid form not less than one and a half layers. 
     
     
         4 . The tank according to  claim 1  characterized in that in its upper part, a grid with a cell less than the floating element diameter is installed. 
     
     
         5 . The tank according to  claim 1  characterized in that in its lower part above the liquid discharge-load level a grid with a cell smaller than the floating element diameter is installed. 
     
     
         6 . The tank according to  claim 1  characterized in that in its upper part an internal collaring is also made. 
     
     
         7 . The floating element for the tank according to  claim 1  made as a rotation body characterized in that it is made of aluminum or its alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The floating element according to  claim 3  characterized in that it is made with the ceramic coating of aluminum oxide or stainless steel. 
     
     
         9 . The floating element according to  claim 3  characterized in that the ratio of maximum diameter of the rotation body to its wall thickness is at least 60. 
     
     
         10 . The floating element according to  claim 3  characterized in that it is made with the minimum diameter not less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The floating element according to  claim 3  characterized in that it is made with the maximum diameter not more than 60 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The floating element according to  claim 3  characterized in that it has a spheroid, ellipsoid or egg-shaped form.