Relisa S.A. of Spain stores liquid foods and chemicals in a record- and trend-setting new tank farm at the Port of Barcelona: Spanish storage-tank fabricator Emypro S.A. has built the entire farm, consisting of 22 units, using exclusively Outokumpu’s duplex LDX 2101® plate.
When engineering the first phase of the farm in 2005 with 13 tanks, Emypro foresaw the advantages of the duplex grade and partnered with Outokumpu to convince Relisa about it with the help of technical and commercial studies. When Emypro was only putting finishing touches to the tanks, Relisa ordered 9 more using the same grade. The second phase of the project was completed in December 2007.
The grade selection has brought the fabricator and tank owner major competitive advantages thanks to the inherent qualities of LDX 2101®. Like all duplex stainless steels, the grade features close to twice the strength of austenitic grades. This has allowed Emypro to achieve major materials reduction compared to the conventional austenitic alternative using 1.4301/1.4307 (304/304L). The total weight saving compared to the conventional solution is more than 20 percent. In some sections of tanks, LDX 2101® enables up to 50-percent weight savings.
Moreover, owing to its very low nickel content (1.5%) LDX 2101® allows good price stability against fluctuating nickel prices and, as such, much welcome predictability for investment projects. It also features better corrosion resistance than 1.4301/1.4307.
Emypro’s and Outokumpu’s pioneering development continues a history of milestones achieved together, including the world’s largest duplex storage tank (22m in diameter and 25m in height) fabricated using Outokumpu’s duplex grade 2304 as a replacement for 1.4401/1.4404 (316/316L).
Emypro’s former managing director Alberto Martí (deceased) commented, “Outokumpu’s LDX 2101® and 2304 are good alternatives for the traditional austenitic grades in large-volume tanks due to the material thickness reduction and, consequently, a large reduction in cost.” Current managing director, Xavi Martí, says, “Construction and welding with the duplex grades ran well,” adding that Outokumpu deliveries ran equally well.” Alberto Martí had mentioned good collaboration and technical assistance from Outokumpu as major factors contributing to the success of joint projects.
Project
22 storage tanks at the Port of Barcelona for edible oils and other mildly corrosive contents. Built in two phases: first 13 tanks completed in 2006, additional 9 in December 2007.
Owner
Relisa S.A. of Spain specializing in bulk liquid storage
Tank fabricator
Emypro S.A. of Spain specializing in stainless steel storage tanks for chemicals and petrochemicals, with a reference list totaling more than 3 million cubic meters of storage tank volume in Europe and the Americas
Tank specifications
Diameter: 10.0−19.5m
Height: 25m
Total storage capacity: 96,696 m3
Tank materials
(all supplied by Outokumpu)
Duplex LDX 2101® hot rolled
-CPP: 1,300 tons, 5.0−8.0mm thick
-Quarto plate: 800 tons, 6.0−16.5mm thick
Contact:
Erik Johansson
Product Manager
Outokumpu, S.A., Barcelona, Spain
Tel. +34 933 238 134
Email: erik.johansson(at)outokumpu.com