When maintenance is performed on LNG tanks, a 100 percent reliable technology is required LNG is neither inflammable nor poisonous in its liquefied state and is thus relatively innocuous. However, if it evaporates, it is highly explosive. For this reason the most stringent explosion protection regulations apply in the whole GATE terminal – including the crane technology. The LNG wire rope hoists from STAHL CraneSystems used here meet these requirements.
Off-standard LNG hoists are used for lifting the valuable liquid gas pumps. Each of the three explosion-protected hoists has two separately driven rope drums with 2400 kg lifting capacity each. The dual design ensures safe operation even if, unusually, a rope should break. An additional slewing crane, equipped with explosion-protected wire rope hoist type SH 30 ex, is mounted on each liquid gas tank. These auxiliary cranes with 150 kg lifting capacity are used to transport tools and small components up to the platform of the tank.
Competence in explosion protection As market leader for explosion-protected crane technology, STAHL CraneSystems offers the world’s widest range of hoists and crane components. The products are certified in compliance with ATEX or the IECEx scheme. Complete documentation is a matter of course. STAHL CraneSystems offers specially developed LNG hoists for the LNG field, which are by now in operation in numerous plants all around the world.
The GATE terminal in Rotterdam was opened in September 2011 after a contruction period of three years, and in the long run is intended to assure gas supplies to north-western Europe. GATE comprises three LNG tanks with a total volume of 540,000 m³. That is approximately equivalent to the amount of gas consumed in the Netherlands in 10 days. The liquefied gas is transported with the aid of pumps set on the base of the tanks. For maintenance work, or if a pump is faulty, it must be lifted out of the tank by crane.
[mappress] Source: STAHL, March 20, 2013