Used Cryogenic Bulk Storage Tanks for Sale

What is cryogenic bulk storage?

Vacuum-jacketed, insulated vessels that hold liquefied gases — nitrogen, oxygen, argon, CO2, LNG — at temperatures down to −320°F and below, keeping boil-off within workable limits.

How is a cryogenic tank's capacity rated?

By water volume in gallons and by maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP). The same water volume holds different amounts of product depending on which gas is stored.

What should I check before buying a used cryogenic tank?

The vacuum first — a soft vacuum means high boil-off and a re-jacket, which is a major cost. Confirm the data plate is legible and intact, because on a coded vessel it functions as the title deed. Inspect the outer jacket for dents, weld repairs and corrosion, check the piping, valves and relief devices, and confirm the vessel has not been sitting warm and open to atmosphere.

Why does previous service limit what a tank can be used for?

A vessel that has held a hydrocarbon cannot move to oxygen service without documented cleaning and recertification, because residual hydrocarbon in an oxygen-rich environment is an ignition risk. Previous service is a hard constraint on resale value and usable applications, not a detail — always establish it before committing.

What documentation should exist for a coded vessel?

A legible data plate, the U-1A manufacturer's data report, and the National Board registration number. Also worth asking for: the last vacuum reading with its date, any pressure test records, relief valve set points and service history. A vessel with no paperwork is worth materially less and is harder to put into regulated service.

What's involved in relocating one?

More than the transport. Expect rigging and a crane, permits for an oversize load on the larger vessels, a foundation or pad at the destination, piping and relief tie-ins, and a purge and cool-down before it holds product. On the biggest tanks, disassembly and re-erection is a project measured in months, not days — budget for engineering, not just freight.