The safe storage of liquid nitrogen plays a key role in the availability of this substance. Present in a wide range of industries, liquid nitrogen is now an essential component for many products that are already part of everyday life.
Liquid nitrogen is essentially nitrogen that has been cooled to transition from a gaseous to a liquid state. In this state, it exhibits unique properties that give rise to its uses across various sectors, ranging from the food industry to medicine.
However, to access these properties, precise liquid nitrogen storage is required to prevent the potential risks specific to this substance, while also achieving maximum efficiency and avoiding resource wastage.
In this article, we share more about LN₂ and the key factors for designing a safe liquid nitrogen storage system.
What is liquid nitrogen?
At room temperature, nitrogen is a colorless and odorless gas that makes up approximately 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere. When subjected to temperatures below -195.8°C, liquid nitrogen forms, and its production involves designing a liquefaction process that includes compression and cooling techniques.
If exposed to room temperature again, liquid nitrogen quickly evaporates. This particularity regarding the temperature of liquid nitrogen is behind some of the key considerations when designing cryogenic liquid nitrogen storage systems.
It is also important to understand that nitrogen has a much higher density in its liquid form (compared to its gaseous state). This allows large quantities of this substance to be stored in a relatively small volume.
Main uses of liquid nitrogen
The extremely low temperature of liquid nitrogen allows this substance to be used to freeze a wide variety of materials through direct contact.
This property is behind the variety of uses of LN₂ as a resource, including:
- Among its industrial applications is the treatment of metals and other materials to improve their strength.
- In the food industry, it is used to create ultrafreezing processes, which extend the shelf life of food while preserving its quality. This is because it results in an extremely rapid freezing process, generating smaller crystals compared to slower freezing methods.
- In medicine, it is used to freeze and preserve biological samples. It is also essential in the development of cryotherapies, which are based on treating certain diseases through the freezing of tissues.
- It is a fundamental resource in laboratories and research centers, as it allows for the creation of low-temperature conditions essential for certain experiments.
- As part of the technology sector, it is useful for the manufacturing of components such as microprocessors or LEDs, among others.
Where should liquid nitrogen be stored? --- Cryogenic storage tanks
Maintaining the temperature of liquid nitrogen is one of the key considerations when choosing a storage system. Only by maintaining the appropriate temperature at all times can the quality of nitrogen be guaranteed and its safe and efficient use be ensured.
Therefore, cryogenic storage tanks must be able to minimize potential heat transfer with the surrounding environment, which would otherwise lead to heat energy loss and the implied additional economic costs.
Cryogenic Storage Tanks and Their Technology
Cryogenic storage tanks are an option for liquid nitrogen storage. Such systems are designed to hold large quantities of liquid nitrogen and are ideal for applications requiring a large and continuous supply of liquid nitrogen. Their basic structure consists of the following parts:
- An inner stainless steel container that can withstand the low temperatures required for liquid nitrogen.
- An outer carbon steel container.
- Insulating material separating the two containers.
- A pressure regulation system to ensure constant pressure inside the tank.
Optimizing Storage: How to Minimize Losses and Improve Efficiency
Reducing Evaporative Losses
As mentioned above, the design of an appropriate insulation mechanism is the core of a storage system capable of reducing evaporative losses.
Choosing the right cryogenic container is crucial, but it is also important to follow best practices for sealing the container after use and selecting an appropriate storage area.
It is also recommended to install monitoring equipment, as it can track potential temperature and pressure changes in real time and trigger alarms for timely corrective actions.
GNEE: Cryogenic Storage Solutions
At GNEE, we utilize advanced cryogenic engineering expertise to develop tailored
liquid nitrogen storage solutions. We specialize in the design, manufacturing, assembly and commissioning of cryogenic storage tanks.With over 17 years of experience, our solutions adopt the highest quality insulating materials and are designed to meet applicable quality and safety certifications.
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