UTS design model promises improved safety for LNG storage

A new high-performance computational model optimising the design of large liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks will lead to improved safety and security of storage facilities, with the bonus of reduced construction costs, according to a University of Technology Sydney (UTS) research team that has developed the design with industry partners.

Working with research partners from Arup, the UTS team, led by Head of Geotechnical and Transport Engineering Associate Professor Behzad Fatahi with PhD student Noor Sharari, has developed a rigorous computer simulation technique taking in complex loading conditions, such as earthquakes, and soil-structure and liquid-structure interactions.

“The UTS Interactive High-Performance Computing facility allowed our team to simulate the entire system, including nearly half a million elements with nonlinear behaviour,” said Fatahi. “We can now optimise the design of these energy storage tanks against large earthquakes, improving their safety and security and mitigating against the significant environmental and economic consequences of failure.”

At present in Australia there are around 10 major LNG production facilities addressing local demand, with nearly 100 million tonnes of LNG exported overseas per year.

LNG is usually contained within a vertical circular steel container made of high ductility materials such as 9% nickel steel, while a second container often made of reinforced concrete is needed for external protection and vapour tightness or confinement.

Fatahi said the most common locations for LNG tanks are coastal regions, which often have poor ground conditions, requiring deep pile foundations. Thus, construction of LNG plants can cost billions of dollars and there is a great demand to minimise the construction costs while ensuring safety and security.

Overview of the developed computer model to simulate an LNG tank system. For a larger image click here.

“Our model can increase reliability of LNG tank design to avoid catastrophic failures similar to the damage to the LNG tanks in Japan after the magnitude 7.5 Niigata earthquake, which resulted in uncontrolled fires and explosions with severe pollution of the environment,” he said. “We have developed an analysis and design method encompassing the LNG, inner and outer tanks, foundations and the interaction among them, using a single computer model capable of modelling the entire tank system in one step.

“Moreover, our findings, recently published in the Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering and Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, showed the optimisation of LNG tank design can result in reduced construction costs of these mega projects.”

“This will provide an opportunity to build more of these large energy storage facilities, contributing to better global energy security and a growing economy,” he added. “For example, at the moment gas prices are high and temperatures are low, meaning businesses and households alike are facing big power bills this winter.”

The research team is now looking at the use of polymeric materials for seismic protection of large storage tanks for emerging energy resources such as hydrogen and ammonia.

Top image: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Mike Mareen