Types of Cryogenic Vessels Used in Bulk Delivery Systems

Do you ever wonder which atmospheric gas delivery system is best for your business? High pressure cylinders are typically where we begin. Depending on size, these cylinders can hold up to 300 standard cubic feet of gas, easily meeting the needs of lower usage customers. If and when customer usage demands increase as business grows, high pressure cylinders may no longer be sufficient. As there are so many different options, Rocky Mountain Air can assist you in making the most economical decision to upgrade to a more efficient cryogenic vessel. We offer Oxygen, Argon, Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide in liquid form in various bulk sizes and customizable options. 

Cryogenic Liquid Cylinders

The next size up is a cryogenic liquid cylinder, also known as a dewar. Dewars are offered in 100, 200, 230 or 265 liter containers. In comparison to high pressure cylinders which store 300 cubic feet of gas, liquid cylinders can store 5,000 cubic feet of gas. When liquefied, there are more gas molecules available in a smaller area, making cryogenic liquid cylinders a more efficient vessel for larger gas usage. Also called packaged gases, they are a full-for-empty exchange. The empty cylinder is exchanged, taken back to the distributor plant, refilled and delivered to the customer site to be hooked up to the use point.

Cryogenic Bulk Storage

If you have a need for an even larger vessel for gas storage, we can work with you on sizing a bulk storage tank. Cryogenic bulk tanks are installed on site and can be extremely large, ranging from 525 to 15,000 gallons. They are sized based on monthly usage and are built with the thermal efficiency to maintain liquid for 3 to 4 weeks before refill. However, you must be pulling product from the tank during that period to prevent the cryogenic gas from warming over time. It is important to consistently pull product from the tank over time to reduce the amount of product lost from warming and the built-in tank pressure release. The longer it sits without use, the more product will be lost. Our experts have the knowledge to size a bulk tank large enough to pull the amount of product you need, while counteracting pressure and heat rise, and preventing significant gas losses.

Specialized Cryogenic Engineered Tanks

In partnership with Chart Industries’ engineering team, Rocky Mountain Air is able to operate within the realm of specialty cryogenic engineered tanks and systems as well. For example, we work with oil refineries across the Rocky Mountain region, all of which have much different system requirements than hospitals or restaurants for usage and flow. If you are in need of a customized system with specific capabilities beyond standard product offerings, we are able to provide solutions for special sizes and flows.

Understanding Usage

Understanding usage is key to deciding which vessel is best for you, which is our bulk sales and cryogenics teams’ specialty. Recently, we worked with a hospital in regard to their supply of medical grade liquid Oxygen. They had been receiving a delivery of sixteen T-size(300cf) liquid cylinders per week. This is approximately 5,400 cubic feet of gas per delivery, which does not represent a typical bulk application. They were in the process of expanding the hospital and adding 1-2 hyperbaric chambers. Hyperbaric chambers draw large volumes of gas when in use and their current system was already overloaded. Our cryogenics team evaluated the customer’s current usage as well as anticipated requirements for the future. After evaluation, we suggested a 6,000-gallon system for their location and included a price estimate. Working together, we were able to come up with a solution that would work for the customer now and into the future.

Transport Trailers

So how are we able to be so customer centric? As an independently owned distributor, we have our own fleet of cryogenic transport trailers that deliver fast quantities of products. Since our trucks belong to us, we have more control of deliveries. With the same customer, we took into account the hospital’s location, as they were four to five hours away from the nearest Air Separation Unit (ASU). An ASU is where Oxygen is pulled and separated from the air so that we can provide bulk Oxygen to our customers. In this case, location was important due to the hospital’s mountain location. It was our goal to ensure that the hospital had plenty of product to meet the demand, while having flexibility for possible weather delays in transport. We also took into account our current customer load in that area so that we’d be able to dispatch delivery trucks to provide them with the most economical fills while reducing losses and delivery cost.

We have the correct team in place to help you make the most effective decisions for your business. From our customer service, bulk sales and cryogenics teams, our promise of flawless dependability is to help you come up with the best solution for your specific application. Our experts are always fine tuning what is necessary for equipment and installation, and are dedicated to ensuring that customers know how to safely operate each system. Contact your local branch today at www.rockymountainair.com if you are curious if installing a cryogenic bulk storage tank will be more economical and efficient for your business.