Outokumpu

The Future of Storage Tanks Is Duplex

Emypro builds a large tank farm that represents a revolution in tank storage: making all tanks out of Outokumpu’s Duplex LDX 2101® stainless steel, the tank builder achieves major cost savings.



Relisa’s new Duplex tanks built by Emypro.

The storage tank builder Emypro, S.A. of Spain was putting finishing touches to 13 large storage tanks in the Port of Barcelona in late 2006 when the customer, the bulk-liquid storage company Relisa, S.A. gave green light for an additional 9 tanks. There was no question about the tank material: the new tanks, like the first 13, would be built entirely out of Outokumpu’s proprietary Duplex LDX2101® stainless steel.

Emypro had partnered with Outokumpu a year earlier to convince Relisa with the help of technical and commercial studies to go ahead with LDX2101® for the company’s newest tank farm: the grade brings major benefits to stainless steel users in that it combines the benefits of the high strength of all Duplex stainless steels with the advantage of a very low nickel content.


The strength of Duplex grades – close to 90 percent higher than that of austenitic grades – allows for the use of considerably thinner materials, resulting in major weight and cost savings. The weight saving was approximately 200 tons in Relisa’s first 13 tanks, built with 1,350 tons of LDX2101® plate; the saving in the 9 new tanks, built with 730 tons of LDX2101®, will be approximately 150 tons.

At a time of soaring nickel prices, LDX2101® offers highly welcome price stability and a lower price than austenitic stainless grades.

Emypro specializes in stainless steel tanks for chemicals and petrochemical products. The company’s reference list represents more than three million cubic meters of storage tank volume in Europe and the Americas. Emypro’s cooperation with Outokumpu goes back 15 years and embraces many milestones achieved together, including the largest ever Duplex tank – 22 meters in diameter and 25 meters high built in 2005 out of Duplex 2304 (EN 1.4362).

Relisa’s new tanks are meant for storing honey, oils and other mild liquids, ideally handled by LDX2101® replacing EN 1.4301/1.4307 (ASTM 304/304L), while 2304 is the appropriate grade for storing more corrosive liquids as a replacement for EN 1.4401/1.4404 (ASTM 316/316L).

Emypro’s Managing Director Alberto Martí says, “Outokumpu’s LDX2101® and 2304 are very good alternatives for the traditional austenitic grades in large volume tanks due to the material thickness reduction and, consequently, a large reduction in cost.” He also mentions good collaboration with Outokumpu in deliveries and technical assistance as a factor in the success of the joint projects.

Facts:


Project

Second phase of a storage tank farm for mild contents
Owner Relisa, S.A., Spain
Engineering and construction Emypro, S.A., Spain
Location Port of Barcelona, Spain
Completion 2008
Number of tanks 9
Tank diameter 10.0...17.1 m
Tank height 25 m
Tank material Total of 730 tons of Duplex LDX2101® (EN 1.4162) plate, including:
 - 480 tons of CPP, 5…8 mm in thickness
 - 250 tons of Quarto, 8.5…16.5 mm in thickness


For more information, contact:

Erik Johansson
Product Manager
Outokumpu, S.A., Barcelona, Spain
Tel. +34 933 238 134
E-mail: erik.johansson()outokumpu.com