When we talked about storage tanks in thermal plants we meant of course open tanks.
Storage tanks also function as “expansion vessels”. The expansion tank has a dual function: thermal and hydraulic.
From a thermal point of view its function is to allow water, which is an incompressible fluid, to expand or contract. In order for this to be possible it is necessary for the fluid to be in contact with a gas that can compensate for the expansions and contractions of the fluid.
There are three possible configurations:
- open atmosphere vessel;
- closed vessel, containing water and air (or other inert gas) without any for of separation (self-pressurization or pressurization with air or gas that is inserted from the outside);
- closed vessel with a separating membrane between the water and an inert gas (nitrogen)
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